12 year old son not coping at high school

Hi, I am new to the forums and looking for a little support.

I have a 12 year old son who was diagnosed with dyspraxia in 2009, and has behavioural problems. He's always been volatile and uncooperative, destructive and struggles socially. He's currently going through the diagnostic panel for ASD despite the fact a consultant diagnosed him with ASD at the time of dyspraxia (letter lost by NHS trust and consultant retired!)

During his transition from primary to high school last summer his behaviour went off the chart and he had a few psychotic episodes. It was this that prompted me to seek help. We ended up having a TAF/CAF opened as my son was violent at home, but now thats been closed as my sons behaviour calmed down for a while.

The thing is, his behaviour is ramping up again. He refuses to do homework, refuses to work in class at school, he's disorganised despite constant help, he intimidates other children because of his size and demeanor. He has a detention practically every night after school for being abusive to teachers, disruptive in lessons, bullying other kids at times. At home we cannot get him to do homework, he just won't do it. If we push the issue he melts down and destroys things in his bedroom and becomes threatening. School have not put anything in place apart from the detentions. He had a room he used to go to when he was wound up, but according to my son they keep kicking him out and forcing him to go to lessons, where he will not participate.

I don't know what to do, I feel the school should be doing more. Its clear my son isnt coping at high school and I don't know what my options are now as we are still awaiting a formal diagnosis, which I am worried we won't get as he's above average intelligence and the ADOS came back showing problems but without a diagnosis of ASD....what can I do?

Parents
  • Hi Recombinantsocks

    I am very likely on the spectrum myself, I had very similar issues to my son at school, I am physically clumsy, a bit of a geek, socially awkward. Can never keep friends and obsessive about certain things. Sometimes I think I come across as dry and matter of fact, or even pedantic. I don't see any point in seeking a diagnosis I have read so many books I could probably tell my GP a thing or two. We have parents evening this week, I'm going alone, without my son to get a proper picture of whats going on in lessons. I'm planning on cross questioning the teachers to a degree, to ask what THEY think is causing the issues. That way I will be able to gauge their opinions on autism and whether they are trained/empathic towards such children. After that it will be an appointment with the head of year, and if they won't make changes to enable my son to reach his full potential then I will look for a school with a specialist unit to support him.

Reply
  • Hi Recombinantsocks

    I am very likely on the spectrum myself, I had very similar issues to my son at school, I am physically clumsy, a bit of a geek, socially awkward. Can never keep friends and obsessive about certain things. Sometimes I think I come across as dry and matter of fact, or even pedantic. I don't see any point in seeking a diagnosis I have read so many books I could probably tell my GP a thing or two. We have parents evening this week, I'm going alone, without my son to get a proper picture of whats going on in lessons. I'm planning on cross questioning the teachers to a degree, to ask what THEY think is causing the issues. That way I will be able to gauge their opinions on autism and whether they are trained/empathic towards such children. After that it will be an appointment with the head of year, and if they won't make changes to enable my son to reach his full potential then I will look for a school with a specialist unit to support him.

Children
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