Sending son to special school

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We have had 2 years of hell with our 6 yr old AS son at his current mainstream school. We have finally had enough and decided that sending him to another school is for the best. The new school is a mainstream school with an ASD unit attached. Each day he will spend some time in mainstream classes and some in the ASD unit having lessons and working on social skills, etc. I feel a huge relief. My main worry is that the new school is about 10 miles away. We have been told that free transport will be provided for him, which will either be on a minibus with other kids, or a taxi with an escort. It's just a long way away for such a young lad to be going to school on his own (albeit with an escort). We have an NT daughter who attends his old school, and it would be unfair to move her to the new school as she gets along fine there.

Anyone else sending their kids to schools a distance away each day? It is definately the best school for him, but I'm worrying myself silly!....

It the total amount of time being transported to/from school is less than 1 hour, don't worry about it. 1 hour is the general rule of thumb.

I have no doubt you are doing the right thing, 10 miles might seem a bit far for a 6 year old but being somewhere where he is understood is priceless and is not really that far. When I remember my primary school days the only bit that wasn't a true hell was the one morning and one afternoon a week I would go by public transport to a unit at another school about 3 miles away I was about 8 then.

Logistics can be tricky, but there is a good chance your child is actually excited about the idea of riding a bus. My son would have loved that, at that age. Assuming, of course, it isn't with a large group of unsupervised NT kids.

If he is OK with it, let go of that worry and simply be glad you have found a school that you think he can thrive in.

I had to laugh when I read your concern - you've never living in the country have you? Most kids who live in the country live far more than 10 miles away from their school and no one thinks twice about the bus ride.


If he has the taxi it will only be about a 20 minute drive - thats quite a bit less time than most kids have for the bus ride to a closer school. and while it will be longer if he's on the minibus, it will also go faster as there will be other kids to talk with

In the UK generally speaking our schools are close to home, unlike the USA I guess. So to someone in the US my posting would sound pathetic I suppose. We live in a semi-rural village and our son's current school is about a mile away and I take him there! If travelling miles to school every day was the way of life here I obviously would not be posting in the first place.

Nice to have have sympathetic replies, but 'Triangular Trees' belittling other peoples concerns does not help.

Forget it!

Collywobble,

Good luck to your son! I think you are doing the right thing.

Are those your cats? They are beautiful!

My son was 6 when he satrted school at the local autism specific school, which happened to be about 20 minutes away. he caught the bus which had an escort on it for all the kids, and he just loved it.He couldnt get out the front door quick enough in the mornings....lol
Rach

If I were you, I would try to limit my calls to once a week for a while, and maybe taper off if he doesn't like your calls. See what HE thinks. It sounds like he is doing what is best though. Just keep challenging him mentally.