Getting DD ready for school

[JakB]

It's looking as if DD (severe autism and SLD) is definitely going to be starting school in September (not January as initially planned). The LEA have gone very quiet and I think that if DD does get a place in the fab autistic unit at our local SLD/PMLD school, I will be 'forced' to take it in September.
Feeling very nervous- it's only 4 months away and I've had her at home virtually the whole time. Even if she's been with therapists, I've been around alot
Anyway, I've got to be grown up about this and it's a fantastic school so I will be really, really grateful if we do get a place confirmed. My questions are: What do I need to do to get her ready?! This is a little girl who had been at home, is pretty good at coping with other kids (goes out among other children virtually everyday) but is NOT used to sharing an adult's attention etc. And she's very spinny and gleefully causes chaos when outside her home (and inside, for that matter!)...

Monica2, PMSL at the abseiling!!!
My feeling is as Maddiemo and JakB say, ask for the assessment first and then go legal if necessary and, as maddie says, there are other sources of advocacy/legal support (NAS advocacy helpline too).
My DS had been on a home prog for 4 years when he went to school. As many of you know, he goes to Treehouse so what did I have to worry about? I was gutted when the time came and seriously thought about keeping him at home. We had an integration strategy all worked out but the truth is, he didn't need it and was fine. I do still think that he would be better off at home academically but he was getting institutionalised at home and there are so many things you just can't set up at home. Its been a long process of letting go for me, 3 years later I'm just beginning to trust the school and stop interfering! We have a good parents' group which helps and the school is very good at including us in overall plans and ideas but day-to-day, you just have to leave it to them. I do find that having a combination of transport/picking up myself helps as I can maintain some relationship ship with the staff and he loves to see me at the end of the day. Taking him in to school is no benefit and just hard work, but picking him up 2 or 3 times a week is great. Not all transport arrangements can be flexible though.

I must admit, I miss being able to pick ds up, and I miss the day-to-day contact with the teacher. Unfortunately his school is so far away that I just can't be in two places at once. I have to be at dd's school so that's that. Mind you, his teacher is always happy to have a quick chat on the phone and he has his home-school book which helps.

Tbh though, I think ds settled quicker with me not taking him into school (although I did the first day)because we didn't have the problem of me getting out of the classroom without him being upset and trying to follow me. That used to happen at his sn nursery and it really cuts you up! I used to hear his cries ringing in my ears all the way home.

Yeah, Davros, I am starting to feel like that now (with home programme). That there are just things you can't do as effectively as in school.
Monica- PMSL at abseiling! Thanks for the FAB book- it's incredibly good. And for coping with me this morning- you know what I mean . Maddiemo- yes, I know it will broaden her experiences and I know that IF she gets this precious place it will be great. Just letting go is hard to do...
Pixel- I'm going to come against that once ds is school-age. Not being able to be in two places at once, I mean! Anyway, I should be focusing my energies on hoping she gets a place, not panicking about how I'm going to cope if she does!