ASD and two schools...

[Early Kids]

Is there anyone with an ASD child that attends two schools?

I'm interested in hearing stories of how to help them transition and understand without freaking out too much.

We can't send him to just one school because it would mean travelling over an hour on a bus with high school students (DS1 is almost 5). So next year he will do 3 days a week at the local school and then travel 2 days a week, with the school, to the bigger school.

Any tips would be fabulous.

[Early Kids]

Is there anyone with any tips at all? I need some tips on preparing DS1 for two different schools, two different teachers, two different set of kids and a bus ride twice a week.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday he will attend the far smaller local school (with a total enrolment of 17 children from K-7) I will drive him there and be there to pick him up (mainly because the town is only 3kms longer in distance than it is to drive him to the closest bus stop)
On Tuesday and Thursday the school bus will pick him up from our place and take him in to the big school (approx 630 children from K-12) the trip is approx 30-40mins. He will spend those days with a class of around 15 children all in Pre-Primary.

I am hoping that the same EA will be able to assist him at both schools and the bus trip, which will help him a little.

[shiremummy]

How about a social story that he can read on the bus & every day before he goes to school so that he understands?

Do you know what a social story is? I use it with success with my ASD students.

[Beach Mama]

I would have a chat to the aides at the school about strategies that you can put in place but I would think that doing each run with him on the bus to the school to make him really familiar with it would be a good idea. Familiariarity is going to be the key with it all and you may find it takes some time for him to settle in - just going to one school would be diffulct enough.

Is there any chance he could just go to the smaller school that is close, full time??? Sorry if I misunderstood something, but I would think he would be better off going to the closer on 5 days a week than changing over. ETA:Just saw that isn't possible sorry hun.

There would also need to be some continuity with what he is learning at each school and communication between the 2 teachers so i would be talking to both and getting them to stay in touch with each other somehow. Maybe a communication book could go between to keep them up to date with anything going on that they need to know about. Sorry not much help really but I would be talking to both schools, teachers and EA's about what you can set in place before he sets foot in either school to eliminate any problems that many ASD kids have, simply from change in routine, which sounds like is going to be at each change over.

[MistyFying]

If he's a visual learner, I'd do what shiremummy is suggesting and create a social story. Take some photos of the two different routes to the two different schools, pics of the schools and teacher (if possible). If there's anything he's particularly anxious about try to ease those concerns. And talk, talk, talk about all the good things he's going to do at the two different schools. I'd try to use the schools' different names so he can start to differentiate, and if he needs to wear a different uniform to each, perhaps get him to test run the uniform on the appropriate days during the last few weeks of holidays?

Depending on his needs, it may suit him to have two sets of things - one for each school. eg two backpacks, two lunchboxes etc. Or it may be good for him to have one continuous thing across the whole week, iykwim.

Also, depending on your child, you might wish to arrange to ride the bus with him during the first week (but this could backfire on you and he may associate you with the bus and expect you to be on the bus all the time).

The good thing is that you already know him very well You know what he'll respond to best in terms of preparing him. Whatever works when you prepare him for a new experience now, will most likely be the best option for preparing him for his schooling. All the best.

[Early Kids]

Thank you!! Ive decided to try and do two social stories one for each school. I like the idea of two of everything, thats easy, i think it will help him the most. I would love to send him 5 days a week to the smaller school, but due to the situation there is only a teacher there 3 days a week.


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[~clover~]

I was going to suggest visual aids too. Then he knows where he is on what days.

[Early Kids]

Thanks hun x

Have already organised a communication book and the teacher out here will work at the bigger school for the other two days, one of those days is spent with each of the different teachers to work on what's being done in each classroom etc.

[~clover~]

sounds like they're doing a good job keeping stability with what they've got. the same teachers will be a huge thing.

i'm really worried about getting ds used to a whole new environment, then school with new friends & teachers too. Nothing familiar at all...
But, he'll have his little cousin there with him, & all the cousins & the girls will be there out of class... I think.
He'll get there. Out of about 6 teachers here, 4 full time permanent, he only attached & felt secure with one. i guess we'll find out...

[meow]

I'd make a visual calender on the wall that has the days of the week and a photo of each school under the corresponding days. He'll get used to it because it's his routine and he'll expect things to be different at each place.

[Early Kids]

Clover, I hope he does ok x When are you moving?

I'd make a visual calender on the wall that has the days of the week and a photo of each school under the corresponding days. He'll get used to it because it's his routine and he'll expect things to be different at each place.

Funny you mention doing that, I just colour coded an ordinary calendar one colour for little school, one for big and one for public/school holidays

[~clover~]

we head out west for chrissy & new years, then start the big drive over there after new years

[Early Kids]

Nice, fingers crossed everyone copes well x

[~clover~]

cheers hun, you too

[Early Kids]

Well he started pre-primary yesterday... First day at the other school will be on the 14 th. Will be interesting!!


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[~clover~]

Good luck

DS had a great first day of kindy today... til he didn't get to catch the bus home

[Early Kids]

That's great to hear! DS1 caught the bus home yesterday and the bus to and from school today, he did so well! The bus driver is so lovely, he drives down our driveway and picks him up right in front of our house. It saves walking the two boys up to the end of the driveway and to a main road.

[meow]

Glad it's going well so far!