Parent, Warwickshire
My stories
My School Story
He always cried about going to school and was very reluctant to leave me.
He struggled to focus and sit still and would get into trouble for distracting the class etc. I suggested that he could be autistic like his siblings but it was dismissed so I began the process myself.
He was diagnosed with autism and is awaiting an ADHD assessment.
He continued to struggle to attend school but his year 2 teacher was very supportive. She listened to him and took him seriously when he said he couldn’t wear the uniform because it hurt and allowed him his fidget toys etc. This helped him immensely and he was attending nearly everyday.
However this all changed when he began year 3. His teacher didn’t listen to him or me when I said he was struggling. She said that he was fine and I explained he was masking but we were not believed and this resulted in him missing days off school. I was honest with the school, asking them for support but I was just told to bring him in whatever it takes. I was blamed for not being strict enough and he was blamed for being too anxious. Then the threats of fines came so we had no choice but to deregister.
He struggled to focus and sit still and would get into trouble for distracting the class etc. I suggested that he could be autistic like his siblings but it was dismissed so I began the process myself.
He was diagnosed with autism and is awaiting an ADHD assessment.
He continued to struggle to attend school but his year 2 teacher was very supportive. She listened to him and took him seriously when he said he couldn’t wear the uniform because it hurt and allowed him his fidget toys etc. This helped him immensely and he was attending nearly everyday.
However this all changed when he began year 3. His teacher didn’t listen to him or me when I said he was struggling. She said that he was fine and I explained he was masking but we were not believed and this resulted in him missing days off school. I was honest with the school, asking them for support but I was just told to bring him in whatever it takes. I was blamed for not being strict enough and he was blamed for being too anxious. Then the threats of fines came so we had no choice but to deregister.
What happened next...
We decided to home educate and we have our happy and healthy boy back. We don’t have hardly any meltdowns and he doesn’t tell us that he is a bad boy anymore.
How I think schools could be better.
Consistency across all teaching staff with regards to SEND training and approach. Building positive relationships with families instead of punishing them. Child centred approach to learning and teaching. Changing the environment not the child.