Hi this may turn into a rambling rant but i will try my hardest not to!
Basicaly my middle son was diagnosed with ADHD at 4 1/2 and Asperger syndrome about a year later from then on everything has been a battle although he did recieve an SEN statement with an NPA for 20hrs a week TA support, well he 'muddled' through mainstream primary school but both myself and his teachers were concerned at his ability to cope within mainstream secondary education, so i requested in his review that he went to a local SEN school which has provisions for those on the autistic spectrum, but despite my the concerns we had our LEA deemed him too academicly able (achieving L2 in his sats) and said he had to go to our local mainstream secondary, i apealed and again highlighted our concerns but that was rejected, so i looked at a couple of other mainstream settings one with just over 600 pupils (his current one has around 1300) but they both said they wouldnt be able to meet his complex needs, so off to our local he went, most of the staff there have been fantastic and he initially seemed to get off to a good start, but cracks began to appear within the first two weeks where he started to wet himself daily (sometimes more than once) this is something he hasnt done since a toddler, his anxiety levels have shot through the roof which has a profound effect on his ability to function both at school and home, he says he doesnt feel safe at school during breaktimes so he now goes to the 'learning zone' this is where he also recieves his aditional support for core subjects, he has also been hurt by other pupils and just before christmas had to be sent home because someone had punched him in the head he is showing more and more signs of anxiety stress and inability to cope within a mainstream setting and just cannot keep up with the pace of work, his head of learning support agrees that they are 'just managing him' and have requested for his statement review to be brought forward, iam hoping this means we may be able to get him into a more suitable setting our ideal would be Farleigh College a school specificly for those with asperger syndrome but i know it will still mean a fight to get him there as if the LEA decide he should go elsewhere the usual place they send the children is an SEN school for those with behavioural difficulties which would only encourage his negetive behaviours which are a result of his social and communication difficulties not because he is NAUGHTY. There have also been incidences of children leaving the premesis of that school unattended (or 'escaping')
H2B and i are going to look round Farliegh college on 22nd Jan to gather more info in preparation for this 'battle' and we will be expected to build up a case as to why we feel it is the best place for him against any of the others.
The advice im looking for is to help with what will make the authorities stand up and listen and take notice, i know alot can be in the wording or phrases used.
The referrals manager at Farliegh college has already mentioned tribunals and i know like i said before we will probably have to fight for this as the LEA wont take it lying down, well im prepared to do that but just want to go the right way about it
sorry for the ramble but any help or advice would be much appreciated x x x
