statementing review

[lou33]

We had the first 6 monthly review of ds2's statement today, meeting lasted an hour and a half! On the whole it was pretty good. They are goingt o increase his one to one by two hours a week, as he is at nursery for longer now, and needs someone to help at lunchtime, his confidence, emotional and social ability is maturing etc, he is happy and settled there, the kids love him, the nursery love him, so we were pretty pleased.

Then we moved onto the part about preparing our preferred school of choice for him starting next september. The ot went and had a good lok at it yesterday, walked about measuring heights of steps, gradients of slopes etc, and she doesn't thikn it is feasible for him to go, because the amount of work that would need to be done for him, means there is no way it would be ready for him in time. Plus the new disabled early years unit they were supposed to have up and running by sept, has stalled, so looks unlikely to be ready in time. This means we have to look at sending him to a school in the next village, and leaves us with 4 children to be collected from four different schools at the same time, with only one driver (dh) I can understand the points the ot has raised, and agree really, but it's disappointing, as I don't think any of us realised just how much work would need to be done to accommodate ds2 in a school of this type (it was built in the 19th century), and it would have been good for him to be int he same school as ds1, they are v close. On the plus side, the other school is v disabled friendly already, and they have another wheelchair user starting in the january after ds2. His best friend at nursery is also going to this school. AND the school doesnt give any homework at all

I'm disappointed, but there just seems to be so much to overcome with our first choice that wasn't apparent to us that I don't think we have any other choice. Am seeing the head in january when we get back from holiday to have a look about anyway.

Thanks for listening to me wittering on

God lou that's hard isn't it? Would you not be entitled to transport for ds2 as it is going to be virtually impossible to collect 4 children from different schools?

hopefully bh, but they weren't entirely sure.
Therein lies another problem though, because ds will freak about getting into a car or bus with staranger and waving me off, so if we do get it, I hope they let me ride with him for a bit, though how i will get home i don't know!

There are so many problems with our forst choice,. They can't put a zig zag style ramp in from the school to the dinner hall, because the slope is too steep, and would make for an enormous long path that would need more space than there is. The playground is badly sloped at one end, which isdangerous to him ina wheelchair, they would have to level the playground, and apparently the school don't own all of the playground, rather just a part of it, the rest is owned by the church, and they won't let them do anything to the part they own, even paint games on the surface, so I can't see them agreeing to let the bit they own be levelled. The steps are six inches high for access into the school, and that would mean ramps of 72", to follow health and safety rules. I could go on...

Lou i know how you feel because dd's school have suggested "other' schools for her to go on outreach rather than the school i want ds to go to. I really want them to go to the sameschool but it looks impossible. What seems more impossible is how am I going to pick them both up, go to two parent evening, organise two different events and extra cirricular activities etc etc.

its hard isnt it

wish it could be straightforward for you....but yes do nag about transport for him even though i know you would love your boys to be together

Lou, it's never easy is it??

How disappointing. Hopefully they'll arrange for some transport for ds2. It's a shame he won't get to be with ds1 but at least he'll be with his best friend. And I bet you're pleased at the lack of homework.

Don't start me on homework!

Surely you must get transport. The suggested school sounds good though- and it will be good for him to be there with another wheelchair user of the same age. DS1 has been a bit 'token" at times if you know what I mean (stands out). I think that can matter as they get older- and probably more so for someone like your ds2 rather than ds1 (who'll be less aware).

rambling but hope that makes sense.

makes complete sense