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Original poster

Anyone else starting school September 2011

42 replies

MarioandLuigi · 01/02/2011 13:59

Anyone want to join me in my worrying?

DS2 is due to start in September and I am already really worried about it. I am meeting with the Senco/Incusion/Ed psych next week.

So if anyone wants to come and hold my hand it would be much appreciated :)

OP posts:

chuckeyegg · 01/02/2011 14:01

Hello

My DS is starting in September to and also worried. I'm seeing the senco on Thursday.

Hand holding also appreciated. :)

auntevil · 01/02/2011 14:33

DS3 is due to start in September. Thankfully i only have to worry about medical issues with DS3 as i know he will be fine socially and educationally.
The SENco already knows DS3s brothers, so i don't think we will have any communication problems there. I also know the teachers, and there will be no problem there either. Will your DS2 be going to DC1's school? Any chance he can meet his teachers and go to the school before September, just to get a sense of the place and people before his whole class starts?
I'm here ready to hand hold as the months slip all too quickly by.
Hope your meeting next week comes up with plenty of strategies for making this big transition as smooth as it can possibly be.

BialystockandBloom · 01/02/2011 14:55

Another one here with ds due to start in September. Haven't really started worrying too much yet as we've got the statementing process to go through first, joy.

Can I ask how you all know already which school your dc are going to? We won't find out till April whether we've been successful in our choice of school

chuckeyegg · 01/02/2011 16:16

We too are starting statementing process, we have put down a school that is is on our doorstep and very undersubscribed. It had a bad reputation, no longer justified. Although it's not been confirmed I'm pretty certain of a place. DS does go to nursery in the school which will really help him as the change will not be so great.

loueytb3 · 01/02/2011 16:30

DS1 and 2 (twins) are both due to start reception in September. We have the complication of DS1 (ASD) likely to going to a differnet school to DS2 (NT). Oh and I'm expecting DC3 (cos I'm mad ). I'm trying to block out the likely scenario of trying to settle two children into schools at opposite ends of the borough

We've been statementing forever since May 2010 and still haven't got a final statement although its imminent. We are hoping that DS1 will get into an ASD unit attached to a MS school. It goes to panel in a couple of weeks. If he doesn't get in there, we will most likely be going to tribunal over the statement to make sure that he has enough support (therapy) in a MS school. We have applied through the normal school application process for both boys but won't find out which school they've got a place at until April. We're fairly sure which school they will get though as we live very close to a good primary.

I would really push for statementing to be done as even at its quickest, it can take 6 months. Ideally you want a statement and support in place before September.

Agnesdipesto · 01/02/2011 18:00

Yes, maybe, sort of...
DS (ASD) is on an ABA programme (won at tribunal). This is currently split between home and nursery so in theory the nursery bit should transfer to school. We are currently waiting to see what fun and games the LA are going to pull to try and get rid of our ABA. If this happens school is going to be a disaster.
We are currently waiting to see if the LA will name the school his brothers are at. As he has a statement they are supposed to name a school by 15 Feb.

signandsmile · 01/02/2011 18:45

we are in the 'big school' prep too...

got statement finalised, phew! so 25 hours one to one, and altho we are waiting for school confirmation its on his part four, so should be no probs. (looked at lots of schools, and fixed on nearest MS, (as they had really good attitude.) Now gotta train them up! )

ds will start having little visits with the portage teacher to get him into the swing of it...

auntevil · 01/02/2011 18:56

Mario - the visits that signandsmile will have via portage is the kind of support that i hope will be suggested in your meeting next week. A few small steps before september into this new experience might make a difference.

Original poster

MarioandLuigi · 01/02/2011 18:59

Glad I am not the only one - we can help each other through it. I have a friend who's DD is starting school in September too and she told me today 'I know all the worried your going through, MY dd cant put her shoes on by herself so I dont know how she will cope' (if only my DS's shoes were all I had to worry about!)

DS will start the transition process after Easter, they want him to do three afternoons a week (for an hour each time). He is only starting part time in September.

I have spoken to the Senco again today (my DS1 is already at the school so I can see ehr quite often). She has had to ask the HT if they can break the rules regarding water bottles as DS can only drink from a sippy cup. Apparently he is going to think about it I am hoping this isnt the first in a long line of problems otherwise I might be grey before I am 30!

Good luck to all of you who are going through the Statementing process :)

OP posts:

Original poster

MarioandLuigi · 01/02/2011 19:00

Oh, and the HT thinks home-school diaries are a waste of ink apparently

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signandsmile · 02/02/2011 07:37

hmm... HT sounds 'interesting'

ds's pre-school home-school book is brill. He is minimally verbal, so at least I can get to know what they have done. (also can pass info to them about what he has been doing so they can draw on that.)

jussi · 02/02/2011 10:22

Another one here.
Absolutely petrified.Have statement,have got DS into a really good/inclusive school but he is so anxious and I cannot bear to even think about how he will get changed for PE (there is no way he will put a different pair of shoes on-we can't even buy a different pair, have bought the same style of shoes for the last year or so!)

Am primary teacher myself so just think of all times that will stress him out-assembly/play/lunch/transition times/30 in a class, etc,etc.

Also, however good the Senco is, it really depends on how understanding the teacher/LSA is.

Lack of knowledge of special needs is also an issue as I am so worried my son's behaviour will be misconstrued.

I am hoping he will surprise me (as he has in the past) and settle after the initial transition period.

The Senco mentioned visiting at the end of the summer term.I actually intend to visit at least 4/5 times to take photos, meet with teacher, take my son after school hours when there are no children around and then again when there are children.
His 1-1 worker from nursery is also going to go with him on the first day to 'officially' hand him over to his new LSA.(school don't know about this yet).

Anyway, I'll stop rambling now. Thanks for starting this post, I'll be reading with interest.It makes such a difference when you know there actually are people out there who know how you feel!
Thanks

Original poster

MarioandLuigi · 02/02/2011 10:40

Jussi - I like the idea of visiting the school after hours when there are no children there - might pinch that one.

If the teachers stay how they are currently then the Reception teacher is lovely ( though the school seem to switch round teachers all the time).

I am really worried that I have made the wrong choice about schools - there are 4 in our area. The one we have chosen, a catholic one, a very large primary school which seems to be good on inclusion but is massive (300+ children) which I think would be too big for DS, and another where the HT was very sniffy about SEN and was very bothered with league tables.

OP posts:

auntevil · 02/02/2011 10:47

That's not rambling jussi. Its the difference between a newbie NT and a newbie SN/SEN. All parents have the worry of new school - uniform, friends etc - it's just that we have more than just those issues to understand and try to prepare for before September. But you sound like you've already got plenty of strategies on the go already

IndigoBell · 02/02/2011 11:51

Mario - while there are pros and cons of large schools vs small schools.

Some of the advantages of are large school is they can play with class distribution. If you are in a one form entry they can't separate your child from a child that is really bothering him - but in a 2 or 3 form entry they can easily do that next year.

Also in a 2 or 3 form entry they have a choice of which teachers to give to your child, so they can at least choose the most experienced one.

They will also have more experience with SEN.

They also have more TAs and so can do more interventions.

I moved from a 1FE to a 3FE and have been really surprised at how much better a 3FE is

Tiggles · 02/02/2011 11:56

DS2 starts school in September. Fortunately he will be in the same classroom that he is in now for nursery, although technically with a different teacher. I am waaaayyy more panicked about when he starts in year 1 with a new teacher, new classroom, and what looks from the outside the window like complete and utter chaos!

TheCrunchyside · 02/02/2011 12:03

Just wanted to pop in and say hi.

ds started reception in sept 2010 and i remember how hard it was to choose a school, worry about the statement being ready etc.

good luck with it all.

chuckeyegg · 02/02/2011 13:26

How's it going TheCrunchyside? Is DS settled?

auntevil · 02/02/2011 15:10

Choosing the right school is a whole new ball game. I moved DS1 from what i thought would be a right school into a thought would be a wrong school. Shows you how some things can sway your decision making. The proof of the pudding and all that. We have the advantage of living near lots of choice for schools. It does mean that if it doesn't work out you have options.

Original poster

MarioandLuigi · 02/02/2011 15:30

It took me ages to decide between big and small - in the end I just know that DS would not cope well in an environment with lots of children at the moment. The other thing that swayed it for me was the level of support the school would give DS - big school said 1-2-1 mornings only, whereas small school said 1-2-1 full time.

How is your DS getting on TheCrunchySide?

Have written a big list of all the things I want to talk about in the meeting next week - I think its going to be a long one!

OP posts:

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 02/02/2011 15:46

DD starts in August (in Scotland)..won't find out which school until May!

auntevil · 02/02/2011 16:05

Oooh Fanjo - it's a horrible wait. I was physically sick when i waited for DS1's place to be offered. Even with sibling rule, i was still nervous with DS2. I will still be nervous with DS3 - thinking, what if they say they never received it etc.!
It doesn't give you very long to prepare in Scotland does it. Dahn Saff, we get notified in April for September start.

chickensaresafehere · 02/02/2011 16:08

My dd2 starts in September too,she has final statement,32.5 hours a week,fingers crossed preferred MS school will be ok'd in March.

School is great,but lots of things to worry about,dd2 is completely non-verbal,but makaton's very well.Very hypermobile as well,so many issues to tackle !!
Head has said she wants me involved in one to one interviews,but have been advised to push for 2 separate one to one's,anyone advise me on this?

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 02/02/2011 16:09

it's horrible already and I havent even submitted the form yet,...the big day is tomorrow! our genetic results are due April/May too..what a month!

auntevil · 02/02/2011 16:12

Holiday in June required Fanjo!

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