He leaves Y11 next week and I am feeling a bit maudlin.
So
An open letter to the wonderful teachers my son has encountered during his school journey.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you have done for my son and for us.
To the wonderful HT at his Infant school who not only listened to my son but who squatted down to his height to listen more carefully. Thank you.
To the fabulous Mrs N in Year 1 who rapidly realised that my son was autistic. She couldn’t tell me but she could say that he didn’t read facial expressions well and struggled with social communication. As my son asked every hour if it was “home time yet” she made him his very own clock that he could compare with the one on the wall, if they matched it was home time. Thank you Mrs N, you will never know how much you helped me on the journey to diagnosis.
To Mrs M in Y2…you were only fashioned and a nightmare in dealing with autism. My son spent much of Y2 in Reception as you couldn’t cope with him in the classroom BUT you were warm, kind hearted and you cared so much. I watched you in assembly one time with my son sat next to you when a sudden loud noise occurred. This would have been an issue for my son but almost immediately you had him in a reassuring cuddle while you explained what had happened. Thank you. Sometimes it means more to have that wonderful kind heart than to impart facts.
My son’s first two years of school were fabulous thanks to the groundwork laid by these teachers,
To the junior school teachers who listened, assisted and helped my son after his diagnosis , thank you for all the work you put in to getting his Statement of SEN sorted out . Thank you once again for the time, effort and the patience you had with J . Thank you for helping him master reading finally (ADHD medication helped here) and then encouraging him.
Thank you for taking time when his hamster died and letting him choose a flowering plant for the school garden which he helped to plant. Thank you for adding the lolly stick with the hamsters’s name on. J loved watching the plant grow and flower.
To the wonderful SENCO assistant who was amazing in J’s final two years at junior school. You really were a wonderful support to me and I thoroughly appreciated your time and the coffees we had while you sorted out various issues for J.
To the mainstream secondary school teachers I thank you for really trying to support J, he struggled massively in your school and I know you did your best for him. I also know resources are very very tight and that meeting the needs of children with disabilities can be very challenging. Thank you for trying and thank you for supporting me when I said it wasn’t working,
To the staff of the special school J attended from Y8, thank you so much for being nurturing, kind, understanding and supportive. Thank you to the wonderful Occupational Therapist on the staff who rapidly realised that J’s writing was not readable because he was left handed and covering his writing as he worked. A swan necked pen changed everything for him and his writing was legible for the first time ever. Thank you for buying him a laptop to use in school and for exams, it’s helped him keep up as he types faster than he can write. Thank you for putting up with his moaning about having to use the laptop (some kids eh....ungrateful little wretch 
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To the wonderful TA who offered to camp overnight with J at the school to clear his fears about doing a Duke of Edinburgh expedition …wow. It didn’t work as he steadfastly refused but I was so grateful you made that offer. Above and beyond the call of duty.
To the teachers and teaching assistants who have supported J in the school through to Y11, you are all amazing and I have seen my son come so far . You’ve done so much to make his time there special and I know the Y11 pupils will be having a wonderful final week next week. You have trips out planned and a wonderful celebration assembly where the Y11 students will get their certificates.
My son is ready now to move on to college to a special needs department and do a course helping him with social skills and self confidence. I am looking forward to this next chapter in his life but would be lying if I said I wasn’t going to miss the wonderful support he has had so much.
To all teachers out there working hard and doing their best for their pupils….a huge thanks from me at the end of that journey. Some of you will never know how much it means to have you in our children’s lives even if just for a year.
You’re amazing and I know you go above and beyond. Thank you .