Well, she's being held back a year

[expatinscotland]

IF the education authority agrees to fund another year of pre-school for her.

DD1, that is.

Basically, the school is small and the class is composite - P1-P3, total of about 20 students.

Teacher made it pretty clear that she cannot handle DD1's needs on top of all her other duties, and of course, the level of help that would remedy this isn't guaranteed.

I understand her concerns.

But tbh, we'll be moving again because the impression I got is that she isn't going to be the best teacher for DD1 at all, a year on or not. And another year will tie in perfectly, as our landlords are due to return October, 2009 as it is.

DD1's needs are never going to go away.

She wants students who can get on with things, and this is NEVER going to be the case for DD1, who seemed quite honestly to annoy her at the induction visits.

A pity, because I love DD1's nursery teacher and she's made such progress with her.

And with our landlord, who was also a teacher and later a headmaster at a school for children who were emotionally disturbed (DH is not).

DD1 is overly-keen and that didn't seem to sit well with her.

SO, if the ed authority refuses to fund her another year, then I refuse to turn over my child to this teacher and will figure something else out, because I always do.

The LAST thing this kid needs is someone like this for the first three years of her education.

Personalities will clash, of course, but we're talking about a 5-year-old child here.

Fortunately the ed psych is excellent and can hopefully put forward a good case for DD1's spending another year in a private nursery with an SEN unit attached, where she can receive OT and SALT in house.

I always knew there was a reason why our home situation is what it is, I had always faith in this. And now I know.

I am glad I always kept my mind opened.

'. . . there is no burden that can't be lightened, no wreckful life that can't be set right by heading off down the road.'

Here's hoping we get another year to play for time and reset our bearings.

Also I feel lucky and blessed to have found out now rather than later.

Dd1 needs a school that has a dedicated P1 class.

Two villages down the catchment area changes, as does a village a bit north of here.

I will amend our housing form as soon as I find out if she's approved.

best wishes with you getting the schooling arrangement you want with your DD1. very sorry that the reception teacher has had such a negative attitude, can quite see why you aren't happy with her going there.

I don't get it.

If you're not happy with dealing with composite classes and you're not happy dealing with people who have extra needs, why not go off and find a new job?

Am I the only person who votes with her feet?

Her dissatisfaction is not my lookout, DD1 is.

And the last thing anyone needs in life is someone who has personality clashes with 5-year-olds.

I'm just now breathing a sigh of relief this came out sooner rather than later.

I guess some people aren't very open minded. When I was looking round one school for DS, the teacher showing me round was awful. When I asked about any provision etc for kids with language problems, answer was a shrug, and a "dunno, it's the teaching assistants that do that". I voted with my feet on that school.

It's good to know I'm not alone, TC.

I absolutely adore her S. African nursery teacher, as she is kind and recognises DD1's greatest strength: she is kind, compassionate, thoughtful and loving by nature.

She is very beautiful inside and there is nothing at all I will not do to ensure that she does not lose that because of narrow-minded people, as this is a treasure beyond any riches and to make sure NO ONE takes this from her when she is is no position to give it freely.

She is a far, far better person than I ever was and she was given to me because I have the strength to protect her when she is young.

So no, extra year, ten extra years or no, she won't be going within 10 feet of this gal.

It will be an interesting evening next week at the nusery parents' night out.

I'm glad I cannot get drunk, let's just say .

DS is carrying on at the same school he is at nursery. It is a lovely small caring school with great facilities. Because it is in a semi-deprived area, some people turn their noses up at it. More fool them. Nursery head has a great "can-do" attitude - didn't turn a hair at DS's language problems. Some people were absolutely useless when I was looking for a school for DS - but then other people really restored my faith in human nature - teachers and headteachers happy to chat things through on the phone with an anxious mum.

I am sure, alcohol or no alcohol, you will find a suitable put down

Oh, I won't see that cow at the meal.

But I will be sure to give even more thanks to her nursery teachers and will not soon forget their kindness. One day I will be in a position to repay theirs and those of all others.

'Deprived'. Of what? Some people get wrapped up in all the wrong things, don't they?

One good thing. Her nursery teacher's husband is a bagpiper and a bagpipe teacher. We are a musical family, well, I am, inherited from my father's side. And I think DD gets some from her father's nana, who could sing for all Ireland, apparently.

And I got DH's mother to sing some for me to remember.

DD1 has perfect pitch and an excellent memory, like many dyslexics.

And so her teacher heard DD1 sing some tunes, snippets of tunes, as she just sings and hums as she goes along. It is the only time DD1 can sequence things - she remembers which verse comes before another.

And she recommended a teacher, a good and kind one for her when she is ready. DD1 has shown interest in the recorder and she picks my guitar all the time.

'I am a man
Upon the land
I am a selkie
In the sea
And when I am
in my own country
my dwelling is in
Sule Skerry'

Poor DD1 would sing this and when she asked she said it was because everytime her mother sang this, she smiled.

Not one in a hundred children probably would have noticed this.

You don't often hear about selkies on Mumsnet! it's all about finding the right person/place when a child has problems. If someone is not interested then it's best to walk away sooner rather than later.

wow that's a lovely story about the selkie