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Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

Original poster

Educating Essex

23 replies

sphil · 03/11/2011 22:03

Anyone just watched the last episode? Partly about a boy with Aspergers who was in Year 11. Heartwarming stuff - had me blubbing anyway.

OP posts:
coff33pot · 03/11/2011 22:56

ooh no! thanks for reminding me. I thought it was on the 4th DOH!

Original poster
sphil · 03/11/2011 23:20

Do catch it on iPlayer if you can. Wont say too much about it yet, so dont spoil it.

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uniCorny · 03/11/2011 23:22

he was lovely wasn't he Smile
poor vinny though

Original poster
sphil · 03/11/2011 23:24

Oh yes, poor lad. His face was so expressive when he wwas watching the others go to the prom

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coff33pot · 04/11/2011 00:15

Just finished watching it. Boy I shed buckets of tears when he got up to make that speech on Levers Day. Bless his heart he is lovely. His mum was so proud.
Felt sorry big time for the other boy. Which my lot had a headmaster like that chap. :)

Original poster
sphil · 04/11/2011 11:18

Yes he's brilliant isnt he? Both DH and I are teachers and we'd love to work for someone like him. I was Hmm about the SENCO's approach to Ryan though - she seemed to be assuming he wouldn't do the right thing if he saw someone stealing, rather than asking him what he would do. And then he said ' Well you could go to a member of staff' which he may well have said right from the start!

Obviously only a snapshot though, and they knew him well, so I may be wrong...

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uniCorny · 04/11/2011 11:20

yes I was rolling my eyes at that bit with the SENCO as well.

coff33pot · 04/11/2011 11:27

Yes I thought the Senco got it wrong there too.

I felt he wasnt actually given the time to analyse the picture. She pointed mentioned the person in it, then said supposing there was someone else stealing, then asked what he would do.

To quick and too many things to picture first before answering with a decision. And she was too quick to start talking again about wanting him to do the right thing in the outside world. I dont think he needed to be told the reason for this test at the same time as she was asking him to think about an answer as to what he would do. I also think he would have come up with tell a member of staff of his own accord if he was left time to reflect. But thing is there are no staff in outside world and he should have been informed that the picture was not in school from the start. But I have a feeling that was all rushed on behalf of the cameras just to show what methods they use to integrate him for RL.

Any way he was right first time LOL the person would be in a bit of bother Grin

AttilaTheMeerkat · 04/11/2011 11:34

Had tears in my eyes too re seeing how Ryan got on. Good on both him and Mr Goddard. If only all HTs were as good.

BTW there is an update on Channel 4's website re some of the people featured in this series - www.channel4.com/essex

molepom · 04/11/2011 12:04

From the site:

Vinni..

"Vinni achieved nine GCSEs this summer, including 5 graded A* to C."

YAY! Good on him. It was heartbreaking watching him last night.

coff33pot · 04/11/2011 12:06

Yay! I am so glad to see that!

I felt so much for him too. He was so battling with himself inside bless him.

appropriatelytrained · 04/11/2011 12:29

It was amazing wasn't it? You felt they cared alot about the children and that was the way they tried to do well as a school.

I loved the line - he doesn't need a special school, he's not going to get a special job!

I know inclusion isn't always possible or the right thing but so many children like Ryan are forced out of mainstream because people (schools) see difference as a negative and aren't able to include all their pupils.

But this is what the world demands, this is what the law requires, this is what society needs and the children deserve. It is so sad that this sort of positive inclusion seems so rare.

Ben10WasTheSpawnNowWeLoveLego · 04/11/2011 12:38

I love Mr Goddard. I really really want that for my DS. I am just finishing watching it. Those teachers really really cared and look what a difference they made to Ryan's sense of self esteem. I loved it when he got up to do his speech :)

timetoask · 04/11/2011 13:01

I am full of admiration for Mr Goddard, he is so caring.
Ryan's speech got me in a flood of tears, so brave of him to stand up like that, so confident.

Inclusion has been good for Ryan, but unfortunately is doesn't work for all, I have tried two years of it with my son and I am now desperate for him to go to an environment that is geared to his needs and where he can make real progress. I know it works for some people, but personally I have lost faith in inclusion.

VonHerrBurton · 04/11/2011 13:12

Yep, floods of tears here too - Ryan's speech, Mr Goddard in general, Vinni's sad little face (tad patronising, I know, but I doubt he's reading this!!) I too would be over the moon if I knew my DC were around such motivated teachers.

It upset me a short while ago when someone referred to the school as a 'zoo' and made comments like 'god, are all high schools like this'

coff33pot · 04/11/2011 13:54

well its a happy zoo! The teachers were blunt, to the point but caring at the same time. To actually burst into tears over vinny shows how emotionally attached and determined he was to help the boy.

Ryan was beautiful to me. You could see him calculating his future and his worries and being so honest about it all. I just wanted to hug him.

Original poster
sphil · 04/11/2011 16:27

There was obviously a culture of acceptance in the school - the other kids were very friendly to Ryan ( although having watched the episode about girls arguments a couple of weeks ago I wonder if it would have been different if he had been female).

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Ineedalife · 04/11/2011 17:04

I haven't been watching the programme because it is on Guide night, but watched last nights on 4+1 because someone on here mentioned it.

I thought Ryan was fantastic and loved the bit when his Mum said that school knows what makes him tick and he laughed and said I don't tick mum clocks tick!!!

Just like Dd3Smile.

I can only hope she will be as well supported as Ryan at secondary school.

I did feel very Sad about vinnie though.

anonandlikeit · 04/11/2011 18:36

Lots of tears here too.

jandymaccomesback · 04/11/2011 19:45

Oh dear. I gave up watching it because I really didn't like Mr Goddard, so interested to read how popular he is.

pigletmania · 05/11/2011 14:21

Ryan was lovely, much better than some of the NT kids on the show. The SENCO did come over as a bit patronising. His speech was lovely, to have that confidence to stand up in front of the school.

lisad123 · 05/11/2011 23:17

Was fine till the end!!
Love Ryan, clearly the school have been a great support to him.
Poor vinnie Sad I have known a few like him in my proffessional life and they are the ones I remember and wonder about even now Sad

VonHerrBurton · 06/11/2011 17:14

jandy - genuinely interested as to why you disliked Mr Goddard? Not looking to argue with you, it's not my bag! Just interested x

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