[Nikki]

That time of year has come around all to quickly.  Schools are back (in Scotland) on the18th August.  This will be N's first time at 'big' primary school.  N is fine as she has no idea what is ahead of her, but I'm a bit of a nervous wreck!

It's all change.  This week we've had to say goodbye to a whole host of different therapists and nursery staff.   After 3 years at the nursery, I'm finding it a bit of a wrench.  I take her back and forth to nursery and have daily contact with the staff.

Everyone knows N where she is and I suppose it's just a bit of fear of the unknown.  Also it's the dread of having to explain all over again to taxidriver and escort, new OT, SLT, school nurse and Dr, teachers, classroom assistants................the list is endless.

I think the problem is me, as I know that N will just walk in and not even look back.  Somebody out there tell me that they've already done it and it will really be ok.

Nikki

[Julie]

Hi Nikki

I think we all know where you are coming from!  I certainly do and all I can say is don't worry, everything will be fine.  Hopefully the school staff have already met N, they will already have a profile of her needs etc and everything will be in place for her to start school without any major problems.  The medical staff will also have all the info about her - so you won't have to explain too much to them!  Hopefully they will provide you will a Home School links book, and will write about her day at school, each day, which will give you some insight as to how it has been.  It is also a great way for you to pass messages to school too.

When my son started school (mainstream) I was convinced that they had never seen another child like him and so wouldn't know what to do (even though they had TA's trained in Aspergers and ADHD).  How wrong was I! I was also worried that he would try to run out of school, and apparently he did try - but they were totally prepared for this. They have been marvelous and now that he is 8 years old he has to moved to Middle School (8-12 year olds) so I too am a bit worried about the transition.  There have been lots of visits to the school, and as it is next door to his old school it is very famililar to him - so fingers crossed that everything will go ok. 

Can I just ask why do the schools in Scotland go back so much earlier than the schools in England?  My 2 don't go back until the 3rd and 4th September and they broke up on the 18th July.  It's interesting why things are done differently.

Anyway, don't worry - I am sure that everything will be just fine.
Best Wishes
Julie x

[Jeannie]

Yes Nikki, I too feel anxious about return to school for Lilie. She starts a new school in Sept, we made the final decision last term to place Lilie in a special school and opting out from mainstream. I can imagine the head mistress and school govenors when I told her what we had decided, they must have clapped their hands in delight and flipped cartwheels.
Our driving force to change placement was from an IT specialist involved in our clinical negligence claim who said Lilie was wasting her time at mainstream, and would be far better at the new special school.
We leave behind her 1/2/1, who has been with her since 6 mnths, (but we will be still using her as a carer. But all the caring grown ups not actually involved in teaching, the children who adore Lilie, and even the caretaker who Lilie flirts with! But never the less this new oppurtunuty for Lilie is a fantastic one, and the more I talk to the physio's special educational teachers, we know we've done the right thing. But all the same we're moving out of our comfort zone and it chokes me everytime I think about my beautiful child having to go to a special school. In a way I believe it's the last ( Ihope the last), stage of acceptance of Lilie's severe and enduring disability, caused by some flaming pratt, now that was holding back!!!!
Jeannie.just going off now for the tissuesx

[Nikki]

Hi All!

N's been back to school for 2 whole weeks - it's just flown in!  She's gone with her taxi and escort no problem.  There are only 6 kids in her class with a teacher and 2 assistants.  We definately made the right choice about sending her to a special school. 

She's been really busy and come home in the taxi each day half asleep.  We've got something home this weekend called a 'big mack switch' which is like a big button that you record what you've done the previous night/weekend onto and the kids play it at morning news.  She's had loads of photos sent in her homelink book.  She's been swimming in their hydrotherapy pool and eating school dinners and lots and lots of new busy activities.

I think she's really enjoying it (I hope? - you just don't know with N!)  She looked really smart on her first day at school - I uploaded a new photo of her in her lovely red school uniform. 

To Jeannnie -

it chokes me everytime I think about my beautiful child having to go to a special school

please don't worry - sounds to me like you're doing what you think is the right thing for your child.  She'll probably learn much more in the correct environment.  Thanks for the reply.  L will be fine and probably thrive!  We made a little booklet to send in to school listing some of N's preferences.  It was kind of a mini communication passport.  Suppose it set my mind at ease and gave N's new teacher a running start.  Ther's a template that you can download on this site that I found useful.  http://callcentre.education.ed.ac.uk/Resources/Passports_REA/passports_rea.html

To Julie -

why do the schools in Scotland go back so much earlier than the schools in England?

the schools here have 6 weeks off over the summer.  They finish at the end of June and start back middle of Aug.  Good job we all get different holidays or all the Spanish beaches would be even more packed!!  Thanks for the words of wisdom from someone who's already done it - you were right - they're all trained, they know what to do and she was fine

I went in the taxi with N on the first day with mixed feelings - half of me was having a kleenex moment and the other half - I will admit to thinking 'thank heavens she's going to be in to 3 o'clock!!' 

Good luck to all the kids who have just started back or are just about to start school.

LOL Nikki

[johnvb]

Glad to hear it seems to be going well. Elise's first day at "proper school" today as well! She was proudly strutting around last night in her new uniform (Look Daddy, my top's green etc). It will be interesting to see how she has got on though as she is back yeared she did have some integration into the classroom environment last year to see how she got on.

Cheers

John

[Speeds]

Thomas' first day back today - went in as high as a kite.  He has asked every day of the holidays when he can go back to school.

[paula]

I often think that they should have gradual integration sessions for the parents - we do seem to worry a lot more than our kids do! Don't know about Elise today, but I have been fine!!