DS is supposed to start preschool tomorrow. I am now praying they wont shut due to snow as he is expecting it and will be crushed if its cancelled.
He is going each Thursday for the morning session (3 hours). He has never been in childcare and this is really to help him experience more things that I cant provide on my own, socialisation, and the general fun of it! The school is brilliant I couldnt praise them highly enough. Extremely sensitive women running it and truly they are great. We have been going there for visits over the last 2 years and I always come away counting my blessings that he has a place there. Its not pretentious at all (a good thing in my very upper-middle class village!), its very kind and inclusive.
The Head there is SENCO trained and will be there each Thursday, and he will have a key worker. They are aware of his AS and are eager to help in any way. Their policy is that parents can stay for whole sessions if they like so we can stay to help him settle.
We have been there twice in two weeks to help build him up to it and I have to say each time we have left he has been kicking and screaming he loves it so much! And when we get there he tends to just get on with it and doesnt look for me while I am sitting in the corner of the room. So all good things.
On a visit recently another boy started bullying him saying "go away" and throwing sand at him. DS said "NO!" and continued playing for which I was proud. But he talked about it for 2 days afterwards. And he rewrites history. Now when he tells the story he tells it that he and the boy are best friends. He cant cope with negativity at all.
I worry for him simply because he is so sensitive and easily hurt. And although I know the workers there are brilliant they wont be as tuned into him as I am and so will miss the tiny little shadows that cross his face to signify he has been hurt by something.
I want him to have this experience, I know he wants it, I know he needs it. But I dread sending my vulnerable baby out anywhere without me there to protect him.
Come on ladies boost my confidence!