Ds2 has a place at the school we want but......

[Saker]

I feel really sad since I found out. Last week we were told that Ds2 definitely has a place at the "infant assessment unit" attached to a school 10 miles away. It has a really good reputation and I have visited and liked what I saw. I cannot imagine him doing well in mainstream at the moment even with a LSA whilst at the unit there will be only 10 in his class with two members of staff and he should get SALT 2 or 3 times a week plus OT a couple of times a week. I know it's best for him and I'm really pleased he's got the place but ever since I found out I have felt really sad. I am frightened how he will feel to have everything in his life change and I don't like the thought of putting him a taxi every day. Plus his speech is really unclear and people don't understand him if I'm not there to translate - I hate the thought of him feeling lost and alone and not able to tell people what he wants. I suppose also it is the end of a stage in our lives as he is the youngest and he is about to go to school. Although we were expecting to get the place it wasn't confirmed for sure until last week and now it is all happening really suddenly with him about to start in January. I feel sad having to say goodbye to his portage worker and music therapist and 1:1 at preschool so suddenly.

Anyway please tell me it will get better and to pull myself together!

Hopefully this will be the start of even better things for him. My ds3 started at an sn placemnet at the age of three. At first I felt terrible about putting him on LEA transport, he was non verbal and could not communicate. However the staff were lovely and really enjoyed the job. He got used to the routine very quickly.

You are probably sad at leaving your support network of portage etc behind. Hopefully the staff at the unit will help to fill that gap and you will develop a support netork via the unit. I know the teacher at my ds's school goes far beyond her job desrciption in the support that she has given me and I hope that yours will do the same.

We made a little book of photos of ds and his daily life, which he took to school when he started.

Good luck to him Saker, I hope it goes as well for him as it has for our ds.

What your feeling is normal for all the reasons you have said. Youv'e obviously put a lot of thought into your decision and made the best choice for him. My son is staying to lunch now and i have a much longer day which i spend worrying about him lol. Iv rung to check he's ok just incase he's not coping and they want me to pick him up . Of course he's was fine without me and enjoying himself. Think i need to do the same.

Something that was a welcome change when ds1 started special school (and tbh quite different from ms) was that a) he was understood, and b) the staff really cared about him- I mean really. I was worried about transport, but he loves it. At the moment his bus is decorated with tinsel, father xmas' and flashing lights. He loves it. Come charging for the bus each morning.

See how you feel in a terms time.....

Thanks everyone, it's good to know that other children have enjoyed it and are benefiting from it and I do feel certain we are making the right decision. As you say I already get the feeling that the staff at the unit care and understand. They are coming to visit us at home next week (which is a really nice start) to talk through all these issues so hopefully that will allay some of my fears. I think if he can used to it the taxi will be quite good for him as he tends to chill out in the car and it will probably be good wind down time for him on the way home.

Saker - I'm sure it will get better for you The school sounds fantastic.

I do understand how you feel though. I don't know if it's a SN thing as DS is my only child, but any change scares the living daylights out of me. I'm full of dread about everything and am sure that he won't cope before he's even tried something.

I really hope it's a good move for both of you.

Thanks Lillypond . I feel a bit more positive about it all today. Everyone we know is so pleased for him that he has this place and sure it will be good. Even if he finds it hard at first I know he will get used to it.