Autism, transitioning and the importance of an EHCP

AS MAKAI’S TIME IN YEAR 6 CAME TO AN END, HE EMBARKED ON THE JOURNEY OF CHANGING TO A NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL. HERE MAKAI’S MUM KELLY SHOLAGBADE SHARES THEIR EXPERIENCE AND HOW AN EDUCATIONAL HEALTH CARE PLAN HELPED SMOOTH THE TRANSITION.

Transitioning to new school can be daunting for any child.

The fear of the unknown. New place. New faces. New routine. These changes can be especially difficult for a child with a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum disorder (ASD), who has particular sensory needs.

As a fairly confident 11-year-old boy, Makai seemed surprisingly calm about starting his new school. It would be in a new area, with new peers and teachers, so completely different to anything he had previously known. We had taken him to try on his uniform in advance and had done a trial run of his journey to school. We had also given him the basic run down of the dos and don’ts, together with what you can and cannot do in school. Nervously, I watched the days of summer begin

to fade and the start of the school year approach. And then here it was – Makai’s first day of school.

With his morning routine displayed in the bathroom and his clothes already ironed and laid out for him, it was time to jump back into the school rat race and get ready for his first day. The obligatory first day school pictures were taken, and then we jumped into the car for the 15-minute drive to school. Makai nervously got out, school bags in tow, and we were immediately greeted by a smiling member of staff who had arranged to meet us in advance and take Makai in that morning. A quick hug and a kiss, and that was it. He was off!

Six and a half hours later and it was all over. His first day as a year 7 pupil in middle school was now

complete. Despite both of our worries and anxieties about it all, his first day went amazingly. He was introduced to his new form tutor, and quickly met some new pupils in his class who took him under their

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wing. He got to explore the school and see where all the lessons for his new subjects would be taking place. Makai was also told they would be starting elections soon to nominate a new student council president, and he instantly knew this was something that he wanted to do.

Each day that went by Makai seemed to settle in more and more. By the end of his first month, he had begun to see the difference between a primary and middle school. After delivering his election speech in class, he was elected by his peers to represent his form as student council president. It was his proudest moment so far! Of course, it has not always been plain sailing, and when you have a child with a demand avoidant profile, there are bound to be a few clashes along the way – homework being one of them! But it is all a journey, no matter how fast or slow, easy, or hard.

However, this transition could have been so very different had we not secured an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP) just weeks before he was due to start his new school. We had already been told that Makai was out cathment, so could not attend the follow-on school from his primary. We were then told our nearest local middle school were unable to meet Makai’s needs, which then left us completely in limbo. Luckily, I had started to process of a parental application for an EHCP needs assessment back in 2020, as his previous school felt he wouldn’t be eligible for one. I disagreed and knew this was something we would have to fight for ourselves.

Thankfully, our local authority agreed that an EHCP was needed, and after a lengthy process, it was

finally completed just in time. This EHCP has allowed Makai to gain access to an excellent middle school, with an amazing Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) and a brilliant team of Teaching Assistants (TAs). He now has a bespoke timetable tailored to his needs, and daily TA support to keep him on task. I cannot stress enough the importance of securing your child an EHCP to ensure their needs will be met. It is a long process, during which you may come across some resistance at times, but don’t give up!

As Makai has gotten older he has learnt to embrace his autism, as that is what makes him unique. He should not have to change who he is for anyone. We have even started a YouTube channel called makaimeetsworld to try and inspire other children that the sky is the limit, and that we can do anything we set your mind to.

Makai would love to work in media someday and hopes to encourage more children with any and all learning disabilities to do the same. He recently featured on CBBC’s Saturday Morning Mash-up, where he got to go on live TV and deliver the jury’s verdict on which celebrity would be getting slimed that day!

Makai has a very close- knit circle of friends and family, many of whom can understand and relate to the daily challenges children and adults with special educational needs and disabilities face. Makai’s best friend is Sean, who is also 11 years old with an ASD profile. They are like two peas in a pod, and it has been great to see them develop such a deep bond over the years, when

maintaining friendships is one of the hardest things to manage.

Being an only child, Makai often refers to Sean as his sibling. Sean’s mum agrees that Makai has helped Sean to be more confident when speaking, and not to bottle up his emotions. They both seem to bring out the best in each other. I am optimistic about the future and cannot wait to see where life takes us next.