Had dd's annual review today...

[Blossomhill]

All went really well. Dd has reached all of her targets set from last years statement and is doing really well.
Her language skills, especially receptive are developing at an age appropriate rate which is good as she was severely delayed at 3 yrs.
The school have noticed a huge improvement since dietary change and dd is now sitting for 15 minutes at an activity wheras before she would flit from one to the other. She is also playing with other children and trying really hard to converse (but finds that hard still) We all agreed how scarily close I was to putting dd on Ritalin and hoe much CAMHS dismissed going down the dietary route.
So dd's main area of difficulty is pragmatics and for dx they put pragmatic language difficulties so not sure whether that means it is still disordered?
The school said that dd was doing so well it was hard to find any negatives. However they all agreed it was 100% the right placement as she still struggles with her social intercation and following instructions if her attention isn't fully on what she is supposed to be doing. She is doing so well because she is in the right place.
I walked out of the review in tears as they obviously care so much about dd. The head said to rememeber that dd will probably be unsettled in year 2 at the beginning as she needs to get used to new teachers, language base staff etc.
It is such a breath of fresh air to meet teachers that are so dedicated and obviously care so much about dd and us as a family. Everything they ever say about dd is positive, they don't believe in negative and it does rub off on you too!
Sorry to have gone on but I do feel happy right now
Hope you are all okay, have missed you all xxx

[coppertop]

It sounds like dd has made loads of progress, BH. Her teachers sound lovely too. No wonder you're so pleased!

P.S. Does this mean you've now officially been lured back on to mumsnet?

[Blossomhill]

Thanks Coppertop
I was always lurking in the background Coppertop

[coppertop]

And there was I feeling because of your willpower!!

[Blossomhill]

No I have honestly really cut down. Just popped in now and again

[coppertop]

In that case I'm all over again. Not fair!!!

[Blossomhill]

I had too, it was taking over far too much. I think I have a happy medium now. The biggy is that once we have finished ds's room then the computer is going up there . So no more late night bars for me!

[Pages]

Very pleased that it went so well, Blossom. Your DD sounds like she is in the right place - I feel the same way about the staff at DS's nursery - just hope we are as lucky with schools as you have been.

[Fio2]

lovely to read a post like this

[Blossomhill]

Thanks Pages very kind of you to say so

So pleased that ds is doing so well at nursery. I am sure that once you find the right school your gut instinct will tell you so. I honestly believe though that the right schooling makes such a difference (I know as we had a bad experience when dd went to ds's school nursery for 6 months **)

[lou33]

great news bh

[maddiemo]

Weird I posted a reply to this and it has disappeared. I probably deleted it instead.

Well done, it sounds as if her unit is lovely and caring, very much the right place for her to develop so well.

[JakB]

That is wonderful BH, well done to your fabulous DD and her fabulous mum

[Davros]

Great news BH and so pleased for you. I know how much you have agonised about whether you are doing the right thing, the dx etc. You must feel very proud for having changed her diet, can you do mine next?

[jenkins88]

BH - it must have been so reassuring to hear all the positive things that were said at your DD's review.

I hope she continues to do as well in year 2.

[heartinthecountry]

That's great BH . The school staff sound really supportive.

[Blossomhill]

Thanks everyone for your lovely comments
I think it just means so much being around people who understand dd and know how much to expect from her.
I think as we did have such a negative time at ds's school that knowing just how much the unit is working is so re-assuring. I walk away from dropping her off at school and know hand on heart that I can trust them completely. For example last week mainstream teacher (dd has unit and ms teachers) phoned me at home at 9am in the morning to double check if dd could have some crisps and cakes as it was her birthday. If it was a problem then they could take her out to do some 121. We then went on to have a little chat as dd was slightly unsettled and she explained that as it was art week her routine was all out of the windown and lots of the children, including fully ms were unsettled by the change and unstructure. It's just that nothing is too much trouble wheras at the last school if ever I needed a chat it was almost as if I was asking too much. Anyway dd's not there anymore (thankfully). Saying that though ds has done very well there so it all depends on the child and it did me a favour not working as if it did I doubt I woul dhave contemplated the unit.
Oh I have gone on a bit haven't I?

[Merlot]

Lovely to hear that your dd is doing so well BH Great stuff

[mizmiz]

Aaaaah bh............


There are people out there who take their jobs seriously.

Really pleased for you. What a little star!

[Blossomhill]

merlot - thanks

Mizmiz - Thanks I think you would really get on with dd's SALT as she is so sweet. So can you shed some light on the new descripton of dd's sn being pragmatic language difficulties as she doesn't have semantic problems? Sorry I am being so cheeky aren't I

[Blossomhill]

Mizmiz - I forgot to say please or thank you (what am I like?)

[mizmiz]

In anutshell and very broadly speaking, semantic difficulties sugests problems with the exact meanings and definitions of words-the subtle nuances for example that would make you know the difference between say....... a puzzle and a game/being angry and being disappointed/a party and a meal out.

Pragmatic difficulties suggest problems with social interaction-behaving with or towards other people in a way that could be described as 'odd' (for want of a batter word) or slighty offbeat.

Does this make sense? From what you say,dd's needsdo seem to now be mainly in this second area.

HTH

[Blossomhill]

I must say I prefer to think of dd as ofbeat rather than odd
Thanks for that x

[mizmiz]

Bh,you will have noticed that I put 'odd' in brackets!!!!!!! Also remember that my favourite term is 'quirky' and as you know I have one of those myself.


Ijust love the quirky ones,and my mother always reminds me that i am like this myself.

Seriously though,brilliant news. You must be thrilled!

[mizmiz]

I means inverted commas,not bloody brackets....

[Blossomhill]

Oh no I wasn't offended at all mizmiz, just amused
Dd is quirky and I love that about her. Take that away and she is a different person!