Fionajill - crap morning like that happen to all of us and after talking to DS teachers 99% of the time he is fine once he steps through the door of that classroom (or within a few minutes anyway) When we have mornings like that I often ring the school to see how he has settled. they always seem more than happy to go and find out and they are very understanding. maybe give them a call?

i know you were posting in the asd section a little while ago about Evan and these are some things we found work well with DS who is on the spectrum and might help you if you think Evan has a few traits.

Don't give them choice - it freaks them out. DS has sultana bran for breakfast every moring - no choice - he likes sultana bran and now it is just the done thing. tlk to him at a calm tme and ask what his favourite breakfast is and then let him know this is what he will have for breakfast every morning. End of story, no discussion. Lunches are the same. DS has the same thing on his lunch day in day out. I find it insanely boring but he is much calmer knowing exactly what will be in that box every day.

We have a schedule on the fridge using pictures which DS follows every moring. before this he would put his school clothes over his pj or stuff around so much we would give in and do it. DS likes races also - only if he comes first though. I use this to motivate him to get dressed. i will set him tasks that he can succeed at so - pants on before I come back in the room. I give him a warning just before I come in and he wins. he's happy and dressed and I get to do something else while he is getting dressed.

Bus - tough one, if he is on the spectrum buses can be scary. If you really want him to do the bus thing and it is causing him anxiety it might be worth catching the bus with him a few times and jotting down what happens. Where it stops, people get on and off etc. make your own story about it - stick people on pieces of paper are fine. And again set it up as this is what will happen. He will catch the bus on on this day or everyday or even we will catch the bus if I tell you in the moring otherwise I will drive you. Explain to him why it is important for him to catch the bus. Be very specific.