So the month of March is going to be a very important one for us. We have five schools lined up to view, and that makes me feel a little uneasy if I'm honest. After all, it is a massive responsibility for any parent to find the "right" one!
Complex!!
Making a decision about J's education is going to be very difficult. Pretty much everyone we have met has said she is a "complex" character who potentially could be quite difficult to place in a school.
They say "complex", we say "amazing, unique, bright, funny, articulate and capable".
Choices
J's needs can definitely NOT be met in mainstream....fact! So choices are specialist schools, independent schools, non maintained schools, residential placements plus many more no doubt.
Thankfully we have an EHCP to access specialist education, even though there could be a battle with the LEA if they dispute our final choice!
Academically speaking J is pretty much where she should be for her age, if not a little above. However she certainly needs help with sensory needs, social, emotional and mental health, along with communication and interaction, not to mention help with her own understanding of her recent diagnosis (ASD with PDA and ADHD).
Needs
So, this has got me thinking as to what exactly should we be looking out for on these up and coming school visits. What do we need for J that we simply can't compromise on?
To start, I guess, approachable and understandable staff with a clear knowledge of her diagnosis. There needs to be good communication between the school and the parents (vital!), flexibility in teaching, easy and fast access to special resources and services when/if needed. Class sizes need to be small, with teaching geared to the individual need and ability, not age.
Right Decision
At the end of the day, we know our daughter the best, and if we keep her needs, both short term and long term, at the front of our minds, hopefully we can make the right decision. She needs to feel like she "belongs" at school, that she is nurtured and cared for, as unfortunately her previous school experience has had a huge detrimental effect on her health and social wellbeing.
Most importantly school has to become a positive experience again.
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