DS's wonderful new school - there is hope!

[appropriatelytrained]

I haven't posted for a while. DS was starting his new school and so it has been frantic.

He has gone to a m/stream primary. Very small, in a village. DS2 started a few months ago.

I was so impressed with the head and the school and their commitment to inclusion and positive approach to difference even before we started.

But DS's first 8 days have been AMAZING! He is going to stay right through to after lunch on Monday and is so happy.

The head has allowed his TA (who is actually a qualified teacher) free rein to support him. He is included in the class but allowed to work outside when he needs to. He already feels comfortable enough to tell his TA when he is stressed - soemthing he coul;dn't do in 3 years at the last school.

Nothing is too much trouble. They have no problem with doing things differently - letting him bring his own snack, offering to cook up lunch for him if he doesn't like the menu, allowing him to leave class early to be in the lunch hall first.

They allowed me to be around as much as I wanted - I worked in the staffroom on my lap top for days as he settled - allowing me to help him at lunch time and break.

DS has made friends and children call his name to play with them in the playground.

I would cry with joy if I wasn't so emotionally spent!!

On top of it all the head has taken the fight to the LA about getting the provision in place, giving them deadlines, telling me to leave it to him.

This is a wonderful, wonderful school with a modern, progressive head who is setting a great example to the children about the sort of tolerant, inclusive society we should be living in.

I am not religious but I feel truly blessed.

So those out there struggling and battling on, please don't give up hope and don't be afraid to move on and leave behind crappy, rigid schools who toe the LAs line. Statements are really not enough - they do not make a school care. But there are schools out there who do.

That is wonderful news I am so happy for you and have a similar sort of a story. My DD who is 5 started a mainstream primary school in September it was truly the most horrific time of our lives as the school and HT were just appalling and treated my DD as the naughty wierd kid. DD was so distressed going into school every day and the school would tell me that she must conform and behave like the other children DD has ADHD and dyspraxia.
Anyway we moved DD to her new school in January another mainstream with a smaller class size and the teacher who is also the vice principal is fantastic she has set up amazing behavioural modification techniques and is really positive and motivated to help. She even told me it was such a pleasure having DD in her class as she is so enthused about helping her and she loves DD's sense of humour. I am in love with this school I no longer am frightened to collect DD yes we still have the odd incident but I am happy that these will become fewer as the year goes on.

Brilliant. Just brilliant!

DS went to a ms nursery with 1 to 1 support while waiting for his special school place. They were fantastic in their approach to him and me - I was welcome and listened to - the head chased the LA over provision of changing facilities and couldn't have been better! I agree with you that the statement only works when the school has the right attitude.
If the school had been able to meet ds needs I would have loved him to stay there but at the moment he he is doing really well at his special school, if he makes enough progress he may come back there in a few years as they have a special unit at junior level.

I am so glad you have found such a lovely school appropriately, we have also been blesed by a HT and SENCO who are fab.

The whole of Dd3's new school is inclusive it is wonderful to see the children with all different needs all just gettting on with it.

The staff are amazing, Dd3 is now going to be getting some SALT and physio along with her social skills group and all that without a statement!!

It is like a breath of fresh air, I also feel supported which I never have before.

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I'm just astounded they let a 'vexatious' parent stay in their staffroom. In fact I'm impressed they let ANY parent in there.

So glad things seem to be turning around for your DS.

AT that's wonderful news, so so pleased! .

Oh that is really brilliant! So glad for you and your DS!

Me too soooo pleased. Its been a long time coming.

That is truly inspiring Appropraitelytrained.

It just shows what can b done where the will exists.

Thanks for your responses guys. I think it is the first truly good news I have posted in three years of posting here!!

Ineedalife - you are right about feeling supported yourself. That's how I feel. People are interested in us as a family and express sympathy about what we have been through and say nice things about my children being happy because of the support I give them.

They could see DS's problems from the minute he came to visit because they are OBVIOUS and the head's approach is very much that the statement sets out what a child is entitled to so he will make sure he gets it.

We had a brief visit from the LA EP who popped in and refused to meet DS! The statement confirms that the EP must be involved to set up programmes. The head asked me for some details and ideas and within a day had PAID for programmes himself as he wasn't prepared to wait for them to get their act together. His view is that other children will benefit so it's an investment.

He also believes very strongly that those with greatest need should not be supported by those with least expertise, so everything is teacher led.

Seriously, I couldn't dream up a better place and it is a simple twist of fate that brought me their way.

AT,

Don't forget that although the school exists, and is great, it is YOU and your enormous efforts and sacrifice that made it happen. Don't just be pleased. Be PROUD.

I am so happy for you AT, what wonderful news.
It's fantastic to hear.
Yes, there are indeed so many wonderful educators out there.
I know, I spend my working life with people whose commitment, hard work, interest and love for what they do just blows me away.

Hope you can have a rest now and get on with enjoying your son and family life.

What you say here sums up all I feel and know
' those with greatest need should not be supported by those with least expertise'

I am still amazed at the madness of it all though.
The 2 schools we have been involved with are roughly 1 mile apart and yet in terms.of the way they care about children with sn's there is just no comparison.

When i told the SENCO the other day that Dd3 was not even on the sn register at her old school she just said " she soo needs to be". It said it all to me really.

Wow that is amazing. I'm so please for you AT.

So there are mainstream schools out there like that. We may be thinking of moving DS back into mainstream from August, and this makes me feel so much better about it.

Yes great to hear some good news AT. (can we all come and live in your village?)

Well, we have a new school - starting next week. I have good feelings about it so really pleased to hear that your situation is so improved and that good schools are not just in Oz !

Did you get the school you wanted willow?

That is great..sounds like DD's experience at MS nursery, and also niw at her special school

YES !!!

Thanks so much for your messages. It is wonderful to share them with people who really understand!

I have been so villified personally over the last year - by school, S&LT and LA - so Star , you are right, I do feel proud too to have done what I have done because it has been the right thing for my splendid boy.

And whatever else the failing, dysfunctional LA may say, I am the only person in all this with no other agenda than helping my child.