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Extra time. Primary school

Brooke1

Hello,

i was wondering if anyone can help me. My daughter is 9years old and been diagnosed with Autism, anxiety and ocd disorder and chronic tic disorder (possibly Tourette's) mainly all vocal tics. she is currently on medication for her anxiety. Tests and times tables and exams totally stress her out which then triggers her vocal tics even more so. I am trying to find out if she would be entitled for extra time for these tests/exams. If anyone knows I would be truly grateful and she is a perfectionist and always wants to complete her tests but is begining to struggle.

thank you 

  • Former Member
    Former Member

    That sounds a lot more positive - it will take a while for her anxiety to fade so you will have to be more sensitive to her moods etc than normal.

    A large number of cases of autism etc are inherited - do you think that you or your partner are also on the spectrum? There is a free test at aspergerstest.net/.../ that you might find revealing. A parent that does not realise that they are on the spectrum can be an unsympathetic parent.

  • They have stated that they won't start an EHCP until they have the evidence to support it and although we have been telling them sadly only now since the diagnosis are they beginning to listen. But it feels like at times they think she is coping but you can see that she isn't. We have lots of visuals and she has her own area when she can relax and we have seen a huge difference in her by giving positive reinforcement. I made contact about the parenting copurse and sadly after the age of 9which our daughter is they couldn't assist however did point me in another direction and have given lots of things to assist. 

     proud of our daughters daily achievements that I want to make sure we are doing what's right for her And that is definatley getting the right support for her

    thank you again  

  • Former Member
    Former Member

    Do you know when they will do an EHCP?

    Have you been on the Earlybird (plus) training course for parents of children with autism?

    I was told, when I was diagnosed, that the key to being free of anxiety etc was the environment that I found myself in. In my case, I was working in a company that was not right for someone with autism so I suffered miserably. A child with autism needs a school environment and a home environment that is set up with the autistic child in mind. This means that positive reinforcement must be used rather than negative reinforcement i.e. the child should be rewarded for things achieved rather than punished for things not achieved. If your child is already anxious enough to need medication I think it would suggest that she is building up fears of failure or confrontation rather than building up pride and satisfaction with progress. People with autism should generally not be on medication for autism or the consequent mental health issues that we can get from time to time - a child of 9 being on anti-anxiety medication rings alarm bells in my mind.

    Have a look at the threads returned by this search community.autism.org.uk/.../"positive reinforcement" for discussions where positive reinforcement has been mentioned.

  • Thank you for your reply it's much appreciated, our daughter is in mainstream school however I'm on the understanding that for her to go a special school she would need an ehcp which hasn't Been done yet. But I'm very open to all help and guidence as this is all very new to me. Thank you again 

  • Thank you for your reply it's much appreciated, our daughter is in mainstream school however I'm on the understanding that for her to go a special school she would need an ehcp which hasn't Been done yet. But I'm very open to all help and guidence as this is all very new to me. Thank you again 

  • Former Member
    Former Member

    The first answer is that she should be given extra time. You might find it useful to talk to IPSEA https://www.ipsea.org.uk/ who advise on special educational needs

    If a 9 year old is on medication for anxiety then I would wonder if she is in the right school. Some mainstream schools are ok for some autistic people (I am presuming that she is in a mainstream school?) but some are unbearable. Equally some children with autism will thrive in a special school.