I know there is a starting secondary school thread somewhere but I cant find it and really need some flaps and honks!

[Ineedmorepatience]

Dd3's stress levels are going through the roof and I know why but cant do anything to help

We cut our holiday short this week because she was going downhill fast and didnt want to stay. I had planned to be away until Friday so she was occupied and not thinking about it.

She has melted down this morning over not being able to have a coloured door key, apparently our lock is too old And over not wanting me to have a cushion on the sofa!!

We need to make a new visual timetable for the mornings but not sure its a good idea, what do you all think?

Yay to that polter

Glad your boys have been mostly Ok one. Dd3 is allowed to type her homework if it involves any kind of extended writing (that is more than 2 sentences in her opinion)

OT's advised that she should use a laptop to prevent pain caused by gripping the pen too tightly. Although the EP's she saw her recommended that she be taught how to write properly, including joining to help her rather than her just giving up on writing all together .

One thing I do know and that is that her writing abilities are miles behind her peers

look! A chance finding of a small transition goldmine

ineed Exactly the same handwriting argument here. Though it did actually help to some extent. Senco pushed it against my better judgements as she said writing the words repeatedly for a few years tends to help with spellings. They did a whole class intervention with a bit more targeting to him, subtly, which was good as ds didn't feel singled out.

Oh no - hope the form teacher and SENCO manage to calm him. We had a relatively calm morning for a Monday apart from waking up late and then panicking a bit to get everyone out of the house on time.

My guess is that they have given him, just enough support to calm him down with out being over the top!

That is what they seem to do at Dd3's school when I email.

Great news that his day wasn't a nightmare and the first rainy one is out of the way!

Fantastic news about the new friend.

One thing I am finding quite hard, is to trust that they will actually do something! I was told so many lies last year and staff tripped up so many times that my trust in people when it comes to Dd3 is at an all time low

I know that is my problem and not the new schools but it is a hard thing to deal with!

Yes I tried hard to explain that in my meeting last week. Each time Dd3 has crashed and burned so Reception, Yr 3, Yr 4, Yr 6 it has been harder for her to recover!

Last yrs crash and burn wasnt resolved until Easter last yr from pretty much the first week of Yr 6!!

I worry for her MH when it keeps happening, I really need them to listen to me because as we all know it is us who see the signs first, not the school!

However, having said that, she is doing really, really well and so far they have stepped up and dont most of what they said they would do!

She came home with her early dinner pass today and the social communication group is going to be sorted ASAP!!

Ooops done not dont

polter .. where do I get a body sock? I've quickly googled them, what benefit do they have?

Ok thanks polter ... trying to work out if dd would benefit from one. I don't really understand how they can work

Meir ... I've just clicked on your link to the transition goldmine... how absolutely fantastic! Wish I'd seen it sooner!

Dd3 and I have been chatting tonight, I have some ideas about why she is so much happier since the move to secondary, which has come as a real shock because I was totally expecting her to have school refused by now!!

What do you all think?

Carrying her heavy bag [which polter mentioned the other day]
Moving classrooms around a very large site is giving her chance to move around every hour.
Not having one teacher [who could be moany] all day!
Having specialist teachers who know their subjects and dont give out mis-information.
More opportunities to do music [which is her thing].
Teacher enthusiasm [sp] They actually seem to enjoy being there and she has said that sometimes they have a real laugh!! Her last 2 teachers seem to have been sitting tight until retirement!!
Good support, last yr it was awful and lies were told about what support she was getting.
A good rewards system that recognises not just "best" but great effort! She got a positive for emailing a teacher to ask for help! On a sunday!!! and he replied,bless him
The email system which is allowing her to ask for help from home in writing instead of having to ask in front of others and verbally!

I am not saying it is perfect! That would be silly and unrealistic but she is calmer and happier than I ever dared to imagine she could be in a school setting!

I so hope it continues

Oh and forgot to say, she is asleep before 9.30 pm everynight, knackered but not too stressed to sleep

Dd3 is also staying for after school homework club polter.

Your Ds is is doing really welk to ignore the immature wind up boys.

Yes I still feel worried that it could all go horribly wrong at a moments notice but defintely less than I did

Dd is also so much happier and settled at secondary school. We went through 8 years of primary with no support at all. Secondary is offering a lot of support even without a dx for dd. Also, her school is VERY strict and regimented to the point it is actually wrong! But dd feels so secure in the very organised, strict, no nonsense regime.

Yes frazzled Dd3's school is having a push on behaviour this term too and there is zero tolerance for low level disruption, which is great for Dd3 as she gets really upset about annoying people who spoil her peace and quiet !

Yay!!

Dd3 came home and said "Spanish was amazing! We have a new TA who is spanish and hardly speaks any English!"