Guest guest Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 ---its v worrying but sadly common that the sp school won't give you a detailed answer.You will have to push and( ask in writing?) as to how are they going to teach your daughter. If they were implementing pecs correctly(and many don't),they should give you details.Many children do start to say some words when they start pecs. The school might say they have an TEACCH or eclectic approach in which case it could be a mish mash which won't help your child at all. There's only a handful in the country that use verbal behaviour type ABA (2 in essex).Unfortunately majority of our sp schools believe that speech just comes spontaneously as with typical or hfa kids. Nina In Autism-Biomedical-Europe , " bornlivelife2 " wrote: > > Could people tell me what we should expect and hope for from a > special school > > We have a SEN statement and 1:1 assistant in a mainstream school > where our 4 yrs 2 mths daughter is doing fine EXCEPT no speech > except babbling > > We have started a 2 day mainsteam/ 3 day special school split > placement (where she is in a class of 8, with 8 teachers). > > What additional things should a Special school do to primarily help > her speech? Because if they arent doing any more than mainstream > > My dream was: > > PECS - advise us exact details so we can replicate at home > ABA - becasue people say it is great - again we need to replicate > it at home > > I keep asking the Special school what ADDITIONAL HELP (compared to > mainstream) they are providing, and am unable to get an answer > > Thanks for any help on this > > xx > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 ---its v worrying but sadly common that the sp school won't give you a detailed answer.You will have to push and( ask in writing?) as to how are they going to teach your daughter. If they were implementing pecs correctly(and many don't),they should give you details.Many children do start to say some words when they start pecs. The school might say they have an TEACCH or eclectic approach in which case it could be a mish mash which won't help your child at all. There's only a handful in the country that use verbal behaviour type ABA (2 in essex).Unfortunately majority of our sp schools believe that speech just comes spontaneously as with typical or hfa kids. Nina In Autism-Biomedical-Europe , " bornlivelife2 " wrote: > > Could people tell me what we should expect and hope for from a > special school > > We have a SEN statement and 1:1 assistant in a mainstream school > where our 4 yrs 2 mths daughter is doing fine EXCEPT no speech > except babbling > > We have started a 2 day mainsteam/ 3 day special school split > placement (where she is in a class of 8, with 8 teachers). > > What additional things should a Special school do to primarily help > her speech? Because if they arent doing any more than mainstream > > My dream was: > > PECS - advise us exact details so we can replicate at home > ABA - becasue people say it is great - again we need to replicate > it at home > > I keep asking the Special school what ADDITIONAL HELP (compared to > mainstream) they are providing, and am unable to get an answer > > Thanks for any help on this > > xx > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2008 Report Share Posted December 20, 2008 --- Establishing Operations Inc do some v good training dvds including one on manding or requesting . How does your daughter communicate at school and home? In Autism-Biomedical-Europe , " malcolm4237 " wrote: > > ---its v worrying but sadly common that the sp school won't give you a detailed > answer.You will have to push and( ask in writing?) as to how are they going to teach your > daughter. > If they were implementing pecs correctly(and many don't),they should give you > details.Many children do start to say some words when they start pecs. > > The school might say they have an TEACCH or eclectic approach in which case it could be > a mish mash which won't help your child at all. There's only a handful in the country that > use verbal behaviour type ABA (2 in essex).Unfortunately majority of our sp schools > believe that speech just comes spontaneously as with typical or hfa kids. > Nina > > In Autism-Biomedical-Europe , " bornlivelife2 " <peter_2_@> wrote: > > > > Could people tell me what we should expect and hope for from a > > special school > > > > We have a SEN statement and 1:1 assistant in a mainstream school > > where our 4 yrs 2 mths daughter is doing fine EXCEPT no speech > > except babbling > > > > We have started a 2 day mainsteam/ 3 day special school split > > placement (where she is in a class of 8, with 8 teachers). > > > > What additional things should a Special school do to primarily help > > her speech? Because if they arent doing any more than mainstream > > > > My dream was: > > > > PECS - advise us exact details so we can replicate at home > > ABA - becasue people say it is great - again we need to replicate > > it at home > > > > I keep asking the Special school what ADDITIONAL HELP (compared to > > mainstream) they are providing, and am unable to get an answer > > > > Thanks for any help on this > > > > xx > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2008 Report Share Posted December 20, 2008 No special school will be able to use ABA with your child unless it is one of the tiny number of independent fee-paying ABA schools. If the school says they use elements of ABA don't believe them. Margaret > > Could people tell me what we should expect and hope for from a > special school > > We have a SEN statement and 1:1 assistant in a mainstream school > where our 4 yrs 2 mths daughter is doing fine EXCEPT no speech > except babbling > > We have started a 2 day mainsteam/ 3 day special school split > placement (where she is in a class of 8, with 8 teachers). > > What additional things should a Special school do to primarily help > her speech? Because if they arent doing any more than mainstream > > My dream was: > > PECS - advise us exact details so we can replicate at home > ABA - becasue people say it is great - again we need to replicate > it at home > > I keep asking the Special school what ADDITIONAL HELP (compared to > mainstream) they are providing, and am unable to get an answer > > Thanks for any help on this > > xx > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2008 Report Share Posted December 20, 2008 No special school will be able to use ABA with your child unless it is one of the tiny number of independent fee-paying ABA schools. If the school says they use elements of ABA don't believe them. Margaret > > Could people tell me what we should expect and hope for from a > special school > > We have a SEN statement and 1:1 assistant in a mainstream school > where our 4 yrs 2 mths daughter is doing fine EXCEPT no speech > except babbling > > We have started a 2 day mainsteam/ 3 day special school split > placement (where she is in a class of 8, with 8 teachers). > > What additional things should a Special school do to primarily help > her speech? Because if they arent doing any more than mainstream > > My dream was: > > PECS - advise us exact details so we can replicate at home > ABA - becasue people say it is great - again we need to replicate > it at home > > I keep asking the Special school what ADDITIONAL HELP (compared to > mainstream) they are providing, and am unable to get an answer > > Thanks for any help on this > > xx > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2008 Report Share Posted December 20, 2008 My son has been to 2 Local Authority Special Schools. From my admittedly limited experience my view is that there is nothing special about a special school. Don't expect the staff to have any training in how to teach your child, don't expect much in the way of assessment, don't expect anything in fact. Ask hard questions about what they would do for your child. Don't let them pull the wool over your eyes. Margaret > > > > Could people tell me what we should expect and hope for from a > > special school > > > > We have a SEN statement and 1:1 assistant in a mainstream school > > where our 4 yrs 2 mths daughter is doing fine EXCEPT no speech > > except babbling > > > > We have started a 2 day mainsteam/ 3 day special school split > > placement (where she is in a class of 8, with 8 teachers). > > > > What additional things should a Special school do to primarily help > > her speech? Because if they arent doing any more than mainstream > > > > My dream was: > > > > PECS - advise us exact details so we can replicate at home > > ABA - becasue people say it is great - again we need to replicate > > it at home > > > > I keep asking the Special school what ADDITIONAL HELP (compared to > > mainstream) they are providing, and am unable to get an answer > > > > Thanks for any help on this > > > > xx > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2008 Report Share Posted December 20, 2008 My son has been to 2 Local Authority Special Schools. From my admittedly limited experience my view is that there is nothing special about a special school. Don't expect the staff to have any training in how to teach your child, don't expect much in the way of assessment, don't expect anything in fact. Ask hard questions about what they would do for your child. Don't let them pull the wool over your eyes. Margaret > > > > Could people tell me what we should expect and hope for from a > > special school > > > > We have a SEN statement and 1:1 assistant in a mainstream school > > where our 4 yrs 2 mths daughter is doing fine EXCEPT no speech > > except babbling > > > > We have started a 2 day mainsteam/ 3 day special school split > > placement (where she is in a class of 8, with 8 teachers). > > > > What additional things should a Special school do to primarily help > > her speech? Because if they arent doing any more than mainstream > > > > My dream was: > > > > PECS - advise us exact details so we can replicate at home > > ABA - becasue people say it is great - again we need to replicate > > it at home > > > > I keep asking the Special school what ADDITIONAL HELP (compared to > > mainstream) they are providing, and am unable to get an answer > > > > Thanks for any help on this > > > > xx > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2008 Report Share Posted December 20, 2008 PS I am sorry to sound so negative but we are all in the same boat here and it is a hard long slog and often (usually) there are no easy answers - we just do the best we can at the time with what's available locally and depending on our physical, emotional and financial resources. What happens in terms of speech therapy, occupational therapy etc etc in one Local Authority will not be happening in another. The butter is scraped very very thinly on the bread in Cambridgeshire. I didn't manage to get ABA for Henry until he was 7 1/2 - and all the research says the best results come when you start it aged 2. (I do wonder though whether any families have split up so that the mother can get legal aid for Tribunal....) Margaret > > > > > > Could people tell me what we should expect and hope for from a > > > special school > > > > > > We have a SEN statement and 1:1 assistant in a mainstream school > > > where our 4 yrs 2 mths daughter is doing fine EXCEPT no speech > > > except babbling > > > > > > We have started a 2 day mainsteam/ 3 day special school split > > > placement (where she is in a class of 8, with 8 teachers). > > > > > > What additional things should a Special school do to primarily > help > > > her speech? Because if they arent doing any more than mainstream > > > > > > My dream was: > > > > > > PECS - advise us exact details so we can replicate at home > > > ABA - becasue people say it is great - again we need to > replicate > > > it at home > > > > > > I keep asking the Special school what ADDITIONAL HELP (compared > to > > > mainstream) they are providing, and am unable to get an answer > > > > > > Thanks for any help on this > > > > > > xx > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2008 Report Share Posted December 20, 2008 PS I am sorry to sound so negative but we are all in the same boat here and it is a hard long slog and often (usually) there are no easy answers - we just do the best we can at the time with what's available locally and depending on our physical, emotional and financial resources. What happens in terms of speech therapy, occupational therapy etc etc in one Local Authority will not be happening in another. The butter is scraped very very thinly on the bread in Cambridgeshire. I didn't manage to get ABA for Henry until he was 7 1/2 - and all the research says the best results come when you start it aged 2. (I do wonder though whether any families have split up so that the mother can get legal aid for Tribunal....) Margaret > > > > > > Could people tell me what we should expect and hope for from a > > > special school > > > > > > We have a SEN statement and 1:1 assistant in a mainstream school > > > where our 4 yrs 2 mths daughter is doing fine EXCEPT no speech > > > except babbling > > > > > > We have started a 2 day mainsteam/ 3 day special school split > > > placement (where she is in a class of 8, with 8 teachers). > > > > > > What additional things should a Special school do to primarily > help > > > her speech? Because if they arent doing any more than mainstream > > > > > > My dream was: > > > > > > PECS - advise us exact details so we can replicate at home > > > ABA - becasue people say it is great - again we need to > replicate > > > it at home > > > > > > I keep asking the Special school what ADDITIONAL HELP (compared > to > > > mainstream) they are providing, and am unable to get an answer > > > > > > Thanks for any help on this > > > > > > xx > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2008 Report Share Posted December 20, 2008 Yes we are happy with Tom's school and work closely with them. Sometimes we've had hiccups but we follow the same IEP/ABLLS targets and as for " why " - because he's in a class of four, with two teachers and two TA's. In our very local and good mainstream primary he was in a class of 30 and had to share 50% of one TA with a child with DS. By now he would probably have been excluded. We would love him to be in mainstream school - Tom is profoundly disabled and that's not what he needs. We'd love it to be otherwise, maybe one day. Steph x > >> > Could people tell me what we should expect and hope for from a > > special school > > > > We have a SEN statement and 1:1 assistant in a mainstream school > > where our 4 yrs 2 mths daughter is doing fine EXCEPT no speech > > except babbling> > > > We have started a 2 day mainsteam/ 3 day special school split > > placement (where she is in a class of 8, with 8 teachers). > > > > What additional things should a Special school do to primarily help > > her speech? Because if they arent doing any more than mainstream> > > > My dream was:> > > > PECS - advise us exact details so we can replicate at home> > ABA - becasue people say it is great - again we need to replicate > > it at home> > > > I keep asking the Special school what ADDITIONAL HELP (compared to > > mainstream) they are providing, and am unable to get an answer> > > > Thanks for any help on this> > > > xx> >> > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Get Windows Live Messenger on your Mobile > http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/msnnkmgl0010000001ukm/direct/01/ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2008 Report Share Posted December 20, 2008 Yes we are happy with Tom's school and work closely with them. Sometimes we've had hiccups but we follow the same IEP/ABLLS targets and as for " why " - because he's in a class of four, with two teachers and two TA's. In our very local and good mainstream primary he was in a class of 30 and had to share 50% of one TA with a child with DS. By now he would probably have been excluded. We would love him to be in mainstream school - Tom is profoundly disabled and that's not what he needs. We'd love it to be otherwise, maybe one day. Steph x > >> > Could people tell me what we should expect and hope for from a > > special school > > > > We have a SEN statement and 1:1 assistant in a mainstream school > > where our 4 yrs 2 mths daughter is doing fine EXCEPT no speech > > except babbling> > > > We have started a 2 day mainsteam/ 3 day special school split > > placement (where she is in a class of 8, with 8 teachers). > > > > What additional things should a Special school do to primarily help > > her speech? Because if they arent doing any more than mainstream> > > > My dream was:> > > > PECS - advise us exact details so we can replicate at home> > ABA - becasue people say it is great - again we need to replicate > > it at home> > > > I keep asking the Special school what ADDITIONAL HELP (compared to > > mainstream) they are providing, and am unable to get an answer> > > > Thanks for any help on this> > > > xx> >> > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Get Windows Live Messenger on your Mobile > http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/msnnkmgl0010000001ukm/direct/01/ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2008 Report Share Posted December 20, 2008 In my view it comes down to whats in your child's statement and how their needs are described - you only get provision to match need so you need to be clear about how the needs are described in the statement. What does it say in the statement in part 2 on your daughter's needs around speech/language/communication? If it says she has xyz difficulties in part 2 then there should be provision named to meet xyz needs in part 3. Its not about 'what the school should do' - rather its about meeting the need named in the statement....the school has a duty to meet the need. I suggest you look at what it says in the statement about developing your daughter's speech, language and communication. You should have targets in her IEP which you can use to monitor the school's progress in meeting her speech/lang/comm needs - if she is not moving on through the IEP (eg she is still on the same speech, lang etc target after, say, 6 months) then whatever it is that the school is doing to meet the need is not working and needs addressing through the IEP process. If the school fails to respond through the IEP process I would say you would need to bring it up an an annual review of statement at which you would ask for changes to be made to the statement to reflect the lack of progress with xyz provision.....that way you are preparing the way to trigger an appeal to tribunal. My personal view re schools is that 'autism specific' 'special' and mainstream do not necessarily have worse or better provision - it depends on what your child needs and how a school responds to the child's needs (NOT to their label of autism). My preferred choice re school is: Small Child centred With staff who are willing to think outside the box and work in real partnership with parents A mix of ASD and NT kids ........it only took us 3 1/2 years to find one.......... In the first instance however, look at what is said in the statement in part 2 re speech etc needs and at part 3 re provision to meet need. Zoe > > Could people tell me what we should expect and hope for from a > special school > > We have a SEN statement and 1:1 assistant in a mainstream school > where our 4 yrs 2 mths daughter is doing fine EXCEPT no speech > except babbling > > We have started a 2 day mainsteam/ 3 day special school split > placement (where she is in a class of 8, with 8 teachers). > > What additional things should a Special school do to primarily help > her speech? Because if they arent doing any more than mainstream > > My dream was: > > PECS - advise us exact details so we can replicate at home > ABA - becasue people say it is great - again we need to replicate > it at home > > I keep asking the Special school what ADDITIONAL HELP (compared to > mainstream) they are providing, and am unable to get an answer > > Thanks for any help on this > > xx > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2008 Report Share Posted December 20, 2008 I am just writing on behalf of my grandson's special school. I suppose we have been very lucky although his parents researched every school in the area. On Thursday we attended his school Carol Service in a local church. All the children took part - and behaved impeccably. This is not unusual for this school. The staff are unbelievable in their dedication. The children all look happy! Charlie did not start at this school until he was 8 years old - after some years of Son-Rise. This year he has had a lot of health problems,(PANDAS, Candida etc.) but has still made progress, including swimming and horse riding as well. ( After the Service a little boy was running away from his mother - Charlie called out 'be careful you might get run over by a car') Unbelievable before he started school. I wish all the Special schools were the same. Jill > >> > Could people tell me what we should expect and hope for > from a > > special school > > > > We have a SEN statement and 1:1 > assistant in a mainstream school > > where our 4 yrs 2 mths daughter > is doing fine EXCEPT no speech > > except babbling> > > > We have > started a 2 day mainsteam/ 3 day special school split > > placement > (where she is in a class of 8, with 8 teachers). > > > > What > additional things should a Special school do to primarily help > > her > speech? Because if they arent doing any more than mainstream> > > > My > dream was:> > > > PECS - advise us exact details so we can replicate > at home> > ABA - becasue people say it is great - again we need to > replicate > > it at home> > > > I keep asking the Special school what > ADDITIONAL HELP (compared to > > mainstream) they are providing, and > am unable to get an answer> > > > Thanks for any help on this> > > > > xx> >> > > > > > > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Get Windows Live Messenger on your Mobile > > http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/msnnkmgl0010000001ukm/direct/01/ > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 22, 2008 Report Share Posted December 22, 2008 If the school is not providing any extras compared to mainstream you are right to question placement. In our case the additional support included: access to Occupational Therapist and sensory programme (home and school) access to SLT and consistant application in classroom with some support in the home access to other therapies such as sherborne and music therapy access to better PE equipment and teacher not being called all the time cause they couldn't cope not having to educate the educators I have to caveat all this as access is not as frequent as I would like but better than mainstream even after tribunal, but alot depends on the local school set up and willingness of school and LEA to provide genuine choices.... After 3 years at special we are gradually builidng up mainstream hours but it is complicated. He needs special for a lot but peer group at mainstream is preferable for learnt behaviours aspect. Also in our special a lot of kids whose placement in mainstream has broken down come to special aged 7/8/9 with very challenging behaviours and having had no sensory management his special peer group are becoming less and less beneficial. It sounds harsh but as he becomes more socially aware the impact of changing profile of kids in special is becoming more apparent and he is calmer with mainstream (this is the opposite to the situation in nursery). HTH > >> > Could people tell me what we should expect and hope for from a > > special school > > > > We have a SEN statement and 1:1 assistant in a mainstream school > > where our 4 yrs 2 mths daughter is doing fine EXCEPT no speech > > except babbling> > > > We have started a 2 day mainsteam/ 3 day special school split > > placement (where she is in a class of 8, with 8 teachers). > > > > What additional things should a Special school do to primarily help > > her speech? Because if they arent doing any more than mainstream> > > > My dream was:> > > > PECS - advise us exact details so we can replicate at home> > ABA - becasue people say it is great - again we need to replicate > > it at home> > > > I keep asking the Special school what ADDITIONAL HELP (compared to > > mainstream) they are providing, and am unable to get an answer> > > > Thanks for any help on this> > > > xx> >> > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Get Windows Live Messenger on your Mobile > http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/msnnkmgl0010000001ukm/direct/01/ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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