Autism?

[baggieal]

I’m looking for advice if anyone can help.

My son’s partner has a little lad of just over 4 years old who’s just started school, mainstream school.

He’s a lovely little chap and as bright as a button, highly intelligent but already diagnosed with various issues including autism.

His primary school has received funding to enable him to have additional personal help within the classroom but this doesn’t seem to be happening.

He’s coming out of school very deflated and down each day and is just not his normal self yet his teacher keeps fobbing off his mum and saying that he’s fine!

Do any of you have experience of one of your children or grandchildren suffering from autism and know what the lads rights are in this regard?

I think you said your wife was a teacher 923 so if anyone has and help or guidance on the subject I’d be very grateful.

I want to do everything I can to help the little chap, I struggled at infants school even though I was supposed to be “normal” and I hate the thought of the little fella going through a miserable time,

Ta.

My advice Mick ( wife was a specialist teacher in early years ) is to look around. Some schools are better equipped to help with autism and special needs more than others. We know of schools who do almost nothing but others have dedicated support. We also know of an autistic child whose parents pay for a classroom assistant ( recruited by the school ) for further help. The needs of an autistic child differ as one could need structure in their own little bubble and another one could be disruptive as they crave attention and have lots of energy. Sadly some schools/teachers find it hard to cope with a disruptive child especially if a teacher is newly qualified and quite rightly does not have the experience in the classroom which can't be taught on teacher training through the classroom experience.

My advise from one of my own children is to pay to see a professional specialist who can diagnose this and provide you with a written report/action plan. A child when a certain age can receive funding then for a lap top/paper/ink etc and also when older have their exam/s on a 1-1 basis in their own classroom usually with another 60 minutes time given. Whilst this may not be so important at a young age, it's crucial when they are older.

So it's crucial you look around. It's a bit like saying every school has the same approach for a child who is gifted and talented - believe me they don't! Some schools/teachers don't offer proper extension work but more of the same which is wrong. Some schools are also against a child for example reading advanced books which could be to the same level ( or above ) to the year above/or even above that as they think the child is going too fast! Every child is different as we know.
Bit like saying every 12 year old should be at the same level for sport! I know a 12 year old who plays tennis with adults as she's that good and plays for the county too.

Look around but do obtain a professional diagnosis as GP'S are useless and will pass the buck!