tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post4485220112674374516..comments2024-03-23T13:59:45.537+00:00Comments on Steph's Two Girls: Choice: Free School or Mainstream, what would you do? Stephs Two Girlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-22396993459268270032013-04-06T10:00:26.271+01:002013-04-06T10:00:26.271+01:00Thanks for these encouraging words. Guess we all j...Thanks for these encouraging words. Guess we all just want what is best for our children :)Stephs Two Girlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-82266504854223308682013-03-26T23:35:56.433+00:002013-03-26T23:35:56.433+00:00Difficult choices indeed. At the end of the day wh...Difficult choices indeed. At the end of the day whatever you choose the thing that makes the biggest difference in education is the support at home. Do what you feel is best deep down and support and encourage all you can as parents. Coombe Mill - Fionahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10876037849361745669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-65750455305945067892013-03-26T20:43:46.731+00:002013-03-26T20:43:46.731+00:00Wow, sounds like Holland are streets ahead of us!!...Wow, sounds like Holland are streets ahead of us!! We agreed at the conference that it would be a much better idea to put support in when the children are young (Early Intervention, anyone?!) and maybe start at special school, with a move back to mainstream being the aim if suitable. Sadly here what happens is that children are pushed to the point where they fail in mainstream and are then eitherStephs Two Girlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-78277002255676950842013-03-26T20:40:08.783+00:002013-03-26T20:40:08.783+00:00Sounds interesting - and actually smaller numbers ...Sounds interesting - and actually smaller numbers in the school can only be a good thing for our sensory challenged children!Stephs Two Girlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-37494363407392567632013-03-25T10:59:36.951+00:002013-03-25T10:59:36.951+00:00What a tough decision to have to make. Especially ...What a tough decision to have to make. Especially when you're at the stage now where you have to put your energies into one or the other. I don't really know enough yet about your girls or even about the English school system to say anything sensible, but thought I'd share my second hand experiences for what they're worth. My two cousins in Holland are both autistic, one quite Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-30250434500274445512013-03-25T08:22:29.325+00:002013-03-25T08:22:29.325+00:00The best of luck with your decision, I know how ha...The best of luck with your decision, I know how hard it is! In Ireland the pattern seems to be that it is the schools that have falling numbers that set up ASD or aspirer units, as a way of increasing pupils at the schools, so that is something to consider too xLooking for Blue Skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10010049814419812468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-59321624679225653972013-03-24T21:40:48.897+00:002013-03-24T21:40:48.897+00:00That sounds really interesting... probably the onl...That sounds really interesting... probably the only one of its kind in the country though??! Don't think our county is very good at 'units' - or if it is, it's also really good at keeping secrets...!Stephs Two Girlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-86225947089425061912013-03-24T10:07:28.290+00:002013-03-24T10:07:28.290+00:00I'm trying to get my son into a Communication ...I'm trying to get my son into a Communication Interaction Unit. This is attached to a mainstream school and he will integrate in the mainstream based on him as an individual. For example if children are very able at maths they will go to mainstream for maths. If they can't cope with the noise of PE they will stay in the centre and learn. It is also completely tailored to those with PinkOddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13660212941529518937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-59310886906499179482013-03-24T09:43:30.089+00:002013-03-24T09:43:30.089+00:00Thank you. Trouble is that eldest will obviously w...Thank you. Trouble is that eldest will obviously want to go whre all her friends are going, and it'd be unfair to make her do something else just because of her sister (she has enough ofthose pressures already!!). So in my heart I don't want it, but I think my head knows that they most likely will be split :(Stephs Two Girlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-83324625378731871222013-03-24T09:42:05.776+00:002013-03-24T09:42:05.776+00:00they should be... just don't think they are ye...they should be... just don't think they are yet sadly. How do we achieve that? Probably not by taking all of 'our' children out of them.... but who wants to be the guinea pig?Stephs Two Girlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-79234239982944007572013-03-24T09:41:08.156+00:002013-03-24T09:41:08.156+00:00Thanks. Will definitely update, most likely with e...Thanks. Will definitely update, most likely with even more questions!Stephs Two Girlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-80570207521034810462013-03-24T09:06:28.251+00:002013-03-24T09:06:28.251+00:00This is such a hard decision and I really feel for...This is such a hard decision and I really feel for you. My sister has the same predicament and has finally decided on a SN school for my nephew who is now secondary school age (up til now he's been attending mainstream with SN unit). What's harder is the decision on whether to separate the girls. I would keep them together and send them to a school with SN unit but it's easy for me Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17488151945036286537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-38245588747764104612013-03-24T08:38:23.470+00:002013-03-24T08:38:23.470+00:00I'm with you, schools should be much more incl...I'm with you, schools should be much more inclusive. We recently ran a survey for parents about education and confidence in Kent, it was interesting to see that we have 60% of statemented children in special school but 60% of parents would prefer a mainstream with inclusion.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06602685377606640108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-29495964032300307452013-03-24T08:02:33.375+00:002013-03-24T08:02:33.375+00:00Interesting post - will look forward to hearing ho...Interesting post - will look forward to hearing how your conference goes. You have big decisions ahead!Tania Tirraorohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13007784308320361110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-62387854286748785712013-03-23T22:20:38.282+00:002013-03-23T22:20:38.282+00:00That's true. We're probab;y all never quit...That's true. We're probab;y all never quite sure of lots of things, and Mummy Guilt is always hanging around :) Only time will tell I guess!Stephs Two Girlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-5180733837592794422013-03-23T17:53:12.483+00:002013-03-23T17:53:12.483+00:00Choosing the right school is a tough decision for ...Choosing the right school is a tough decision for any parent, can't imagine how much extra pressure you are under. I think all children should be given the chance in mainstream education and hopefully with the right support at school and home your child will thrive. I am sure you will do what is best but do us Mum's ever 100% believe we have made the right choice?!Mummy of Twohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12754356863429150334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-60075982262403190802013-03-23T16:54:32.733+00:002013-03-23T16:54:32.733+00:00Well fingers crossed!Well fingers crossed!Stephs Two Girlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-23339977936730401962013-03-23T14:45:43.558+00:002013-03-23T14:45:43.558+00:00I am sure you will make the right choice! xxI am sure you will make the right choice! xxJaime Oliverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04569927452507747191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-33131623309341428532013-03-23T13:56:18.474+00:002013-03-23T13:56:18.474+00:00That sounds exactly like our experience - we sent ...That sounds exactly like our experience - we sent our youngest to the same private nursery her older sister had been to, and they said they couldn't cope with her! So she started at the school nursery and they were brilliant with her. You're right, it's the individuals and the team who make the difference, we can't choose based on that shcool's standard offer....Stephs Two Girlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-52551635413760531912013-03-23T13:54:12.977+00:002013-03-23T13:54:12.977+00:00Thanks Jazzy. Those questions are all very pertine...Thanks Jazzy. Those questions are all very pertinent and I'll print off and take on my tour of all schools Herts has to offer! A lot to think about.Stephs Two Girlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-23339179082894577722013-03-23T13:52:02.937+00:002013-03-23T13:52:02.937+00:00Thanks Yuji. I'm hoping I don't have to ma...Thanks Yuji. I'm hoping I don't have to make that final call, and that some other parents may be braver than me, but we'll see! If no-one does it, there's no plan B though, and that's the problem...Stephs Two Girlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09592292485187553690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-48593808430970404342013-03-22T22:24:08.205+00:002013-03-22T22:24:08.205+00:00What a tough choice to make. So much can depend o...What a tough choice to make. So much can depend on the individual school and attitude they take towards extra attention needed. I can completely understand you wanting her to be with her sister, and if the support is there that's a great choice. Problem is, you may not know the right choice till it's been made. I know my situation is completely different to you, but my twin son has Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-46752700148707254602013-03-22T15:28:19.352+00:002013-03-22T15:28:19.352+00:00Oh, such a nightmare choosing schools for our chil...Oh, such a nightmare choosing schools for our children! I've always concentrated on what it is my boy needs in all areas then do the rounds of the schools seeing what each has to offer. No one school has it all but the one for your child should eventually standout. I also strongly adhere to my mum-barometer.... the 'feeling' I get as I cross the threshold of a prospective school for jazzygalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04069218745940412457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740038906100434605.post-90334790011922696912013-03-22T02:43:27.444+00:002013-03-22T02:43:27.444+00:00It is too bad that it has to be an either/or choic...It is too bad that it has to be an either/or choice. Some of 'our' kids can function well in mainstream, provided they have the proper supports (including school administrators, teachers, and other parents who embrace the idea). Other kids need a special environment. I think it is great, though, that there is a willingness to set up a school for higher functioning kids. Over here, Yujihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17025841543342602157noreply@blogger.com