• Replies 11 replies
  • Subscribers 65 subscribers
  • Views 1491 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Mainstream or Special?

Rachyjane1

Hi, not sure where to start really.  I live in Birmingham but actually fall under Solihull council and have a son aged 3 and a half in a mainstream nursery.  He was diagnosed with ASD a few months ago, although we suspected this for a while.  In the middle of the statementing process now, however, I am in a real pickle in wondering which school to send him to.  He has very limited speech.  He will come and ask me for things such as "computer on please" or "wheres drink?" etc but can't answer questions or have a conversation.  He is bright though and I don't believe he really has a learning disability.  He can recognise all the letters of the alphabet phonically and can recognise a handful of words.  He can't really draw or write, however if you ask him to spell his name, he can call out the letters in order and draw something that resembles the correct letters! He has sensory issues with certain noises but doesn't have routine issues.  I've looked at a few schools and although my local special school (Merstone) looks great, I can't help but worry that my son will start picking up unusual behaviours by mimicking whats around him.  Ideally, I think with a fab mainstream school thats supportive and with a good one to one worker, I really believe he will shine.  Sorry for rambling but has anyone else been in this position and what did you do?  Noone seems to be able to recommend a good local mainstream that is supportive with this as noone else has had the experience of it.  HELP!!!

Parents

  • Hello

    We've just asked for a special school to be named on our sons statement but he is 10, so a lot older. Up until now he has been in mainstream but without a statement, for us we realised that yes he will be at risk of picking up the other childrens behaviours, but he will have the support of specially trained staff to help him understand life better.  As he has got older, mainstream has proved to be more and more of a battle, especially because he has academic potential and it has been seen that is all that matters, not his emotional welfare, which is equally as important.

    I would be inclined to speak to the special school and ask how far the staff will be able to push him academically and differentiate the curriculum to meet his needs. What can they put in place for his sensory needs in mainstream?

    A difficult decision for such a young one.  Good luck.

Reply

  • Hello

    We've just asked for a special school to be named on our sons statement but he is 10, so a lot older. Up until now he has been in mainstream but without a statement, for us we realised that yes he will be at risk of picking up the other childrens behaviours, but he will have the support of specially trained staff to help him understand life better.  As he has got older, mainstream has proved to be more and more of a battle, especially because he has academic potential and it has been seen that is all that matters, not his emotional welfare, which is equally as important.

    I would be inclined to speak to the special school and ask how far the staff will be able to push him academically and differentiate the curriculum to meet his needs. What can they put in place for his sensory needs in mainstream?

    A difficult decision for such a young one.  Good luck.

Children
No Data