Luca did his first week at his special needs school last week and thoroughly enjoyed it! As it was his first week he spent it getting to know his one to one support, and they really just let him do as he pleased so they could assess him, get to know his likes/dislikes etc. Starting from tomorrow, he's going to be using the learning table! I dont know if its the same in all special needs classes for children with autism, but what they do is spend 15 minutes at the learning table with their one to one, kind of like intensive speech therapy. She'll be encouraging him to use words, pictures and props to communicate. Once he's done his 15 minutes, he'll get 15 minutes of free play, so he can go have a bounce on the trampoline (its sunk in to the ground, i want one!) play with the toys, have a snack and a drink etc, then back to the learning table! Even though i won't be there i'm a bit nervous about it. Knowing Luca, he will not appreciate having his play interrupted, and i can imagine there will be some tantrums! I've tried to tell him he'll be doing something different at school, but i dont really know how much of it really goes in to be honest. Sometimes i think he gets it, but then other times he seems totally oblivious. But anyway, wish us luck! Or more so his one to one Jamie, she'll be the one having to do it lol x

most definately good luck, I hope he has a blast and really enjoys all the extra fun....... and that you dont spend all day worrying either!

Oh i have plans!! I'm going to sort out all the toys and clothes while both boys are out, it was the baby's 1st birthday yesterday so i have to find homes for all her new toys! I'm hoping i'll be too busy to worry!

Sounds like a good plan to me

good luck hun make sure you find time to have a cuppa in the quiet . i think this is fairly standard where they dont overload them with learning. with matt he had a giant egg timer and he knew that if he worked until the sand ran out he could go on the computer (his choice toy hehe) and that was when he was older too when he was younger it was the teachers expensive pens to draw with she was very trusting lol

he will probably love it when he settles as its a routine and after the odd mood which they are perfectly capable of dealing with (thats where most autistic Children are similar ) he will soon understand that if he does the work he can go back to playing, if he doesnt really understand time then perhaps suggest the giant egg timer as its a visual aid
corinne