|
|
Post by serrakunda on Nov 11, 2013 12:00:51 GMT
Simba is about to take his first step into mainstream school, on Fridays for an inclusion opportunity. A couple of visits first and start properly in January
Enormous step for him, he has always gone to specialist nursery and school, he will be going from a class of 14 where he is academically at the top to a group of 20, where he will be at the bottom. But we have to test it out as we have to start thinking about secondary schools
|
|
|
|
Post by lilka on Nov 11, 2013 12:51:22 GMT
Wow, that is a massive step, but hopefully a very positive one. Really hope the visit goes well, he likes his class/teacher and feels happy about doing this more often.
|
|
|
|
Post by sooz on Nov 11, 2013 12:54:29 GMT
Hope it goes well, I'm currently exploring the opposite, mainstream to specialist......
|
|
|
|
Post by bagpuss72 on Nov 11, 2013 13:23:52 GMT
Wishing you well with this huge step. Hope Simba enjoys being in the new environment, that he copes well with the change and it is a positive move for the both of you.
Good Luck
|
|
|
|
Post by ham on Nov 11, 2013 14:14:36 GMT
good luck and I hope it goes well for you both
not to put a damper on things do you have a plan b if the mainstream does not work out.
|
|
|
|
Post by donatella on Nov 11, 2013 14:36:39 GMT
Fingers crossed it goes well for him.
My boys in y5 now and I've started looking at options for him already - starting with a statement to give me choices.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2013 15:07:38 GMT
That's a very unusual move Serrakunda, I've not heard of anyone doing it that way round before.
Normally kids start off at mainstream in infants and juniors and then find that the change to secondary which is less nurturing doesn't go so well and they sometimes go to specialist secondary schools with staff who are trained to cope with pre-teens and teens.
Hope they put the right support in place to aid Simba's transition.
|
|
|
|
Post by serrakunda on Nov 11, 2013 16:21:36 GMT
we are taking it very slowly as I do have concerns. But he is only going for one afternoon a week for PE and golden time, only if that works will we look at academic sessions
Its very common here for children in special schools to have placements in mainstream. He is desparate to go as several of his classmates go to placements and he hates missing out on anything. Problem is Simba is falling between mainstream and special. All the schools here are broad spectrum which means he is by far and away one of the most able children there, but would be near the bottom in a mainstream and I have yet to raise the issue of TA support if he were to go for academic stuff. Half the kids in his school dont even have speech which means for example that they all learn to sign which is all very nice but I'd rather he was learning something else. All his social activities are mainstream and he is fine if everything is structured but if its a free for all he just gets lost.
I'm avoiding the nice middle class high achieving school round the corner and going for the school I used to volunteer at. Its stuffed with asylum seekers and LACs, the pastoral support is superb and they are used to dealing with 'alternative' children. If it doesnt work then I'll know what I have to fight for secondary school
|
|
|
|
Post by donatella on Nov 11, 2013 16:35:35 GMT
It's so difficult. My two asd children are academically able, one very much so but it's the other stuff that gets in the way. My daughter is in mainstream with support, my son in an EBD school. Both settings work okay and they're supportive but my daughters issues are becoming clearer as she gets older and my son is far too bright to be where he is really. But the units tend to have children who are less academically able. It's a hard balance. Hope it goes well for Simba.
|
|
|
|
Post by serrakunda on Nov 11, 2013 16:38:48 GMT
exactly Don, we have to give it a try, if it works great, if not then we move on to what does
|
|
|
|
Post by ham on Nov 11, 2013 16:41:54 GMT
JMK
it does happen. But I only personally know one child who managed to stay in mainstream when he transferred there for secondary schooling.The other six really struggled and moved back to special education.
Serrakunda just don't let anything happen unless you are totally happy with it. But I really hope it does work out for you both.
|
|
|
|
Post by pluto on Nov 11, 2013 16:57:21 GMT
My oldest was in special education when he came to me. I took him out because he was immitating the weird behaviours of some of his classmates, and I felt he was not challenged enough. He has been very successfully in mainstream, always with a full time assistant and goes to secondary next year (because of a move he did class 1 two times). Next year he will go back to a special unit, as when children become older the differences with their peers become more obvious. As a teenager he has nothing in commen with his peers, he looks at girls and they look back until he opens his mouth. He does not share their interests, does not understand their interactions. He loves school and the children are very nice to him, but I do not feel that at 13 next year I do him a favour by continuing mainstream (it is an option), but looking back I would have done exactly the same, so no regrets. Just looking into the future in special education they will have a much better idea what are options for work or living arrangements.
I think it is fine but accademically there will not be a huge change, he will do the same work as in his current school, now with an assistant by his side. Maybe socially it is better for him, that is possible. Be carefull that he receives the right support in the new school, including break times as he is a vunerable child.
|
|
|
|
Post by lilka on Nov 11, 2013 17:18:09 GMT
It sounds like a very good school, Serrakunda, hopefully with their knowledge and support Simba will be able to enjoy and do well on placement.
I know a (non-adoptive) family whose child went from special to mainstream, their child had relatively high functioning ASD, and was intelligent, but had significant social, behaviour and sensory issues. Mainstream did work out for them, though it was very tough at times. They also went for a school with quite low academic results but great pastoral care, which I think is a great combination for many of our kids who would struggle being behind all their peers and so would hate an 'academic' school. Also the pressure at more academic schools is way too intense
My two older ones went the other way, mainstream to EBD!
|
|
|
|
Post by sooz on Nov 11, 2013 17:45:49 GMT
I think it's good to give it a go, and, as you say it will give you a better insight as to what will suit him later. With my ds, he does struggle with some areas and most of his learning is done one to one, as others have said it's the 'other stuff' that gets in the way.
My ds is starting to notice he's different to others and questions why he has to have support, which is one of the main reasons I'm thinking of looking at specialist provision.
But, it's finding the right school! I've looked around a couple but neither have been right.
I have been recommended a secondary school though, where they can do gcse's, if possible.
|
|
|
|
Post by monkey on Nov 11, 2013 20:51:12 GMT
Will be thinking of you on Friday. Hope it goes well.
MMx
|
|
|
|
Post by littlemisscheerful on Nov 11, 2013 21:23:58 GMT
Sooz, that's one of our challenges - nothing is quite right.
My next challenge is to start talking seriously about the possibility of the girls being able to do GCSEs - there have been kids who do them, but the usual method is to join particular lessons at the neighbouring mainstream school - that would not suit either of mine at all - it will need to be done in house.
Good luck Serrakunda.
|
|
|
|
Post by moo on Nov 12, 2013 6:11:26 GMT
GoodLuck Simba......
P.E. Ooohhhh yeh he will love it.... So many new people to ' play' with.....
Xxx. moo. Xx
|
|
|
|
Post by littlemisscheerful on Nov 12, 2013 7:23:09 GMT
Toko, our school has that sort of relationship with the school next door. In reality, I don't know how many kids can make that transition. Certainly for my girls, change of location, change of teacher and all the unfamiliar children would mean that that would be unable to achieve what they are capable of.
I did visit 1 mainstream sec school which was trying to set up 1 class per year of a smaller class size and run it as a primary school class rather than sec class. ie, stay in the same class room (except for science etc when they'd need the lab). It never got off the ground though. We have nothing (that i found) anywhere near to what we needed within mainstream.
|
|
|
|
Post by gilreth on Nov 12, 2013 8:59:41 GMT
We seem to have a lot of co-located provision around here - two separate schools on same site. This at least means that there is scope for crossover and interaction which for some children in special schools is good. Also means that there is opportunity for GCSEs etc if appropriate and also means some challenging but capable children can be in mainstream but have access to special school facilities if required.
Good luck serrakunda - you are obviously thinking about what is best for Simba.
|
|
|
|
Post by daisy1985 on Nov 13, 2013 7:48:23 GMT
Good luck simba!
I am sure if nothing else he will be happy to be not "missing out" and surely it's best to have tried it as you never know it could work well! I hope it does, I really do for you and simba!
Daisy x
|
|
|
|
Post by leo on Nov 13, 2013 21:15:33 GMT
Lots of schools in my LA do split placements - either mornings in one place and afternoons in the other or a 2 day/3 day split and it can work very well.
Have you thought of the possibility of him working a year group lower in mainstream? My two boys have been backtracked one year group and are thriving for it; they are just about holding their own instead of being at the very bottom of the class. It is written into their Statements that they will always stay in this cohort throughout the rest of their schooling so they won't ever 'catch up' as such. That won't be a problem for them as emotionally and socially they are so much younger than their true age.
Hope all goes well for Simba.
|
|
