Tinsley House Support Thread Part 4!!!

[Mangomanila]

This thread is for anyone interested in the Tinsley House programme. All welcome!

A brief synopsis of stage 1 of the programme can be found in the books "is that my child?" Or "the brain food plan" by robin pauc;

Stage 1 of the TH therapy consists of:

1. Daily Multivitamins

• Omega
• Zinc & Magnesium

1. Healthy eating

• High protein, low sugar, no artificial sweeteners, additives etc.

1. Specific neuro development exercises done 3 times a day

• Takes about 4-5 mins

And that's it smile

Stage 2 involves computer programmes to sort out eye tracking and convergence which over 80% of children with reading/writing problems have.

• www.engagingeyes.co.uk

That is just fabulous to hear. I hope one day to get where you are.

To get with DD where we are with DS. Just helping them through the usual life events.

Do you know I had a meeting with an Ed Psych y'day as she was going to be assessing DD for her statement. She asked me if DD was naughty. Can you believe that? Are children with SN naughty? It has really got to me.

Sorry that was apropros of nothing really!

I would love to day I am shocked by that comment but sadly I'm not.
I have had to quit as a gov of the school as I just couldnt sit through another meeting where sn/sen kids were marginalised.
One teacher (who was my sons ct at the time) said in a meeting where I was chair that if kids didn't reach the govt target expected nc levels by end of year 2 they never would.
She said that with me in the room.
Whose son went from level 1s in year 3 to level 4s in year 5.

I resigned the next day.
I don't know that the future will bring for Tom, but I know that I have done what I could to make it a level playing field for him.
And that's all I wanted to do.
"Optong out" of the whole sorry mess of LA/NHS provision has been great for us and has probably saved my sanity tbh.
I guess I - and all of us on this thread for that matter - are a bit unusual in that regard. (I also home schooled of a year too)
We stop fighting for provison that will never materialise. We target our energies where they are most needed - on helping our child and their issues whilst not necessarily treading the well worn path of ct/ht/Senco/IEP/EP/paed/sa/appeal/tribunal...
There is nothing wring with doing any of the above, of course, but having got so far down that path I knew that not only could I not continue but that it was pointless to for us to do so.
I was recommended to do all of the above by mn and I know and genuinely believe that the posters who advised me to do those things had my and my sons best interests at heart but....no.
I am so glad I took the plunge. Made that phone call, read the book...ds hasn't looked back :)

Hi, does anybody on here know about blood test results please? I'm looking at my DDs results from a "phosphate" and "ALP" (serum alkaline phosphatase) which are both high. I know it can have something to do with magnesium absorption from googling it but not sure if it means she has too much or too little anyone know about this stuff please??

Wow Badvoc I feel very emotional for you and Prince I totally get what you mean. It's amazing that you're at the end of the road.....sometimes I still feel overwhelmed but much less than i did, and I think it's possible to believe that our road might just have an end, although it might be just over the mountain in the distance!
Please keep us bookmarked and come back to us with your advice (although I can imagine you might never want to see an SN board again in your life, which would be fine too! But we'd miss you!)

Hi all.
Went to the tutor meeting last night...was rather brief! :)
They do a traffic light system (green for good, amber for needs watching and red for needs action) and Toms subjects were all green :) and by 2 of his subjects the teachers had written "brilliant" :)
Nothing has been flagged up wrt his reading or writing.
We did it.
We really did it.
:)

That's fantastic , you must be bursting with pride xxx

I am :)

Hi, I'm new to the TH threads, but I took my 8 yr old son to see Robin today.

Ds has been diagnosed with very severe dyslexia, dyscalculia and ADHD. He has a statement of SEN.

TH is a last resort really as we're desperate. I've read Robin's books and they made so much sense!

We've come away with supplement advice, a bit of diet tweaking to do, the stair walking exercise and teeth brushing exercise.

We've also got to do engaging eyes.

Just a couple of queries from experienced THers:

1. Can you give me some easy to prepare protein breakfast ideas please?? I often work so something he can have cold at the childminders would be great!

1. Is engaging eyes extra????? From the website, it looks as though I have to spend another £70 on top of the £250 I spent on the appointment!

Thanks!

I thought engaging eyes was £50 ? But yes it's extra but in 8 weeks my son has gone from struggling at level 1 to getting to level 14 and 16 every night and actually wants to do it.

Ds is coeliac so we do protein breakfast all the time. He normally has a few chunks of chicken I've cooked the night before, a cold sausage, salami, ham, chunk of cheese. I know some people give boiled eggs/ omelettes etc but he doesn't like eggs.

Hi FDP,
EE is £50 afaik? Check out the website.
Eggs are always good and so quick to do an omelette or scrambled eggs. He could even eat cold hard boiled eggs. Cold sausage, slice of frittata, cheese...
Good luck x

Hi Peru. We had our first appointment a week ago, though we had been doing Engaging Eyes previously (for about the last 6 weeks). Big improvements already with dyslexia issues (tracking+convergence reading more fluently, can see board better. Can also catch a ball now). Have also gone gluten free. Engaging Eyes does a 'money back' guarantee if you feel it has not helped.I would definitely recommend.

Easy breakfasts- Greek yoghurt with handful of nuts+seeds.
Smoothie with milk, Greek yogurt, banana, peanut butter, oats.
Continental- ham, cheese, roll
Toasted sandwich
Cold sausages
Egg+cheese mayo on crackers
Hard boiled eggs (I make up a batch of these. Good for 3-4 days in fridge)

Let us know how you get on.

Engaging eyes is now £79.95. Went up a couple of weeks ago.

I can't believe that we are onto thread 4!

We've been having a very busy time. I have a long school run and several pick-ups, so have been staying out all day which is quite tiring.

DS is doing really well with his reading and numbers at school, but still struggling with hyperactivity and attention. We've got parents evening in a couple of weeks and it will be really interesting to see what they say. We are focussing on him at the moment, rather than DD as this is what Robin suggested last time we saw him.

Badvoc and Tom! Congratulations on finishing the programme. You have been such an inspiration to us and I have always loved hearing about how Tom is getting on and his news! Its just fantastic how well he's done this term. How are you feeling?

Protein breakfasts - some lovely ideas on here, which is great as we get a little stale (excuse the pun). My DC have gone off baked beans which has been a bit of a nightmare, but here's some of our regular things. I do lots of batch cooking and just re-heat in the morning:

• sausages or fish fingers with potatoes or leftover veggies
• Kedgeree (sp?)
• Cream cheese and smoked salmon or trout in a sandwich cut into whirls or bagels
• Chicken liver pate (from Robins book) or smoked trout pate (made with lemon, parsley and cream cheese)
• Ricotta cheese with strawberries and seeds
• Badvocs posh crumpets - tomato puree, ham and cheese - all grilled
• Tinned mackeral or sardines mixed with tomato puree - grilled on toast with a little cheese on top
• A platter - small slices of different ham, cheese, pear and dried fruit
• Grilled bacon on toast.

I have just started a list of food ideas if anyone wants to contribute? I find it really useful to have an inspiration list whilst I'm planning the week.

Peru - forgot to say welcome. I can remember so clearly how desperate we felt before we started. I'm so pleased that we jumped in and got on with it. Good luck!! ;)

Ruggles...what a good question! :)
I don't know how I feel.
Happy.
Vindicated.
Sad.
Angry.
All at the same time!
It seems so wrong that I - and all of you - have had to do everything we have done just so our kids reach their potential.
But...we have done it.
I know in my heart of hearts I can do no more. And that's important. I didn't want to look back in years to come and ink..."if only...."

Great to hear so many positives - well done to everyone and DCs.

I'm jumping in with a couple of fyi's which I thought might be of use.

Cheapest place (I think) to buy Vegepa is on their website, select the 69.95 letterbox mailer pack and use the 25% TH discount. For the Floradix Ocado usually has them on 3 for 2 but we are shortly switching to Boots' own zinc and magnesium at Robin's suggestion because it will work out so much cheaper.

I have also discovered this little gem: media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/a/advice_summer_born_children.pdf
I have used it to start a discussion with school about perhaps keeping my DS back a year. As a summer born + the issues he's been having, it's the least I can do. shopping you noted that you'd never seen anyone held back and that there would be concerns for peer integration and self esteem and I'm sure you're right for most kids. The only reason I'm even considering it is because DS' school is tiny (38 kids) - Year 3,4,5, and 6 are grouped together so they barely notice the "year" thing. Perhaps the power of the LEAs will start being challenged more now that the DofE has noted the issues that are prevalent with summer borns. It opens the door for more families to choose whether their child is really ready for school. I can think of 5 kids, not including DS, who could really benefit from being held back, 3 of whom were preemies. I will let you know how we progress (and hope that we see so much progress we won't need to follow through with it!).

Have a great rest of the weekend. x x

Greener...I am going to play devils advocate here...why after next week?
Why not tomorrow?
:)
I know it's daunting. Honestly.
But there is no time like the present.

Thanks so much for all the breakfast ideas - they're great!

We've been doing the exercises today, but ds particularly struggles with the backwards stair walking and the teeth brushing one as he wobbles all over the place then gets all silly. Any tips welcome!!

Well you are half way there then greener.
Do bear in mind that frozen veg often has more nutrients than fresh (and is cheaper of course:))

It's easy to forget, but we have so much in common on this thread - Badvoc - I hadn't thought about it that way, but totally agree with you. It is all about doing everything you can, and not looking back and having regrets etc. We do tons each day and it is paying off. I don't want to look back and wish I'd tried more things. Some of our friends and family think we do/worry too much, but I would much rather that way... Can we arrange a meet up? I would love to.

Cereal - thank you so much for the link about Summer Babies. DD is an August baby and has a speech delay. She is due to start Reception next September, but I would like her to stay down a year. There is 18 days in it - seems so unfair to me...

Peru and Greener - just stick with it - keep your heads up! The stairs took us ages and occassionally we'd have a horrid moment where we got fed up and demanded more.. and then it all got a lot better [:)] DD has been doing them since January and still isn't great.... Agree with Badvoc about frozen veggies as they are very easy. M&S do lots of amazing frozen veggies which are quite expensive, but save lots of time too. If you already cook lots from scratch, you are already there - just a bit of tweaking.

xx

PS - just to add about the stairs chat. It took DS ages to get the hang of it, but he did and he became incredibly good at it. When we started, he flailed all over the show, but by the end he marched up and down with a glass of water! xx

Hi ruggles...a meet up would be lovely!
I know I haven't been a round much lately and - sadly - my dads sister is now gravely ill but I am still here...still thinking of you all and willing you on :)

Peru by 'backwards stairs' do you mean when he comes down (so facing the stairs still), or are you already on the second exercise facing away from the stairs?

To start with, I used to gently support his shoulders til he got the hang of it. Er have just started teeth and are very wobbly! Maybe try 30 secs then build up? DS happier if I let him do teeth 'normally' at the end.