An elephant and a cat!

My favourite drawing (this week)

Look at the eyelashes! 

Drawings of Family.

Learning to breathe again.

So we left Edinburgh. All of the children are now in education, including Vee who is now attending full time. We wanted a quieter pace of life and to live by the sea so our three autistic daughters could relax more. We wanted our son to get a chance to have space from stress so he can just be himself, run around and play more football. Most of all, we had to get away from the toxic state that is the Edinburgh education dept. and what it was doing to us.

Our experiences of teachers and teaching assistants here in North Northumberland has restored my faith in professionals and specifically education professionals. Quick turn around given how broken my relationships were in Edinburgh. Even the good guys up there find it hard to do their job in the way they want or in the way that's right for the child and family. Quick turn around given how damaged my girls were becoming up there and how exhausted we had all become, jaded by a system that prevents those in education supporting children with additional needs when it's needed. 

Many could learn from how things are done here. My children are better supported than they ever were in Edinburgh and these guys here are still getting to know them - god, they don't even have allocated budgets for supporting my kids yet and they are all getting to grips with the new SEN reforms. This is the 'nothing' they warned me to prepare for whilst they get things in place. Nothing equals 100% better support compared to Edinburgh. Vee has a 1:1 (remember, she got no allocation of support in Edinburgh because the HT 'was not aware she needed support' even though she had attended 2 planning meetings about V prior to school) and C and G have allocated support at the key times they need it, support which is flexible and adjustments are being made depending on how the day goes. 

I didn't have to ask, it was just organised and done, within their first week in their new schools. 

V is now in education full time, we no longer feel we HAVE to home ed her part of the time in order to ensure she is supported properly. I miss doing it but I know she doesn't. Her learning difficulties and styles are being supported here and no longer do we hear the 'oh she seems fine' as she comes out blinking rapidly and unable to speak after only 3 hours. In fact, she comes out smiling and relaxed after doing a full day, which is new. So does G, that is also new even though she has been in school for 4 years. My boy has blossomed, is tanned and has made some leaps acadmically with the right support. 

No jostling and fighting to get support, no faceless bureaucracy, and not once have I been made to feel like I'm a pain in the ass, nor have felt I am being blatantly lied to. 

People pick up the phone, answer their emails and don't make me feel like I'm making up stuff. I was thanked by G's school this week for going in and talking to them and agreeing to go back in 2 weeks. I left feeling quite weird about that because usually at this time of year people were avoiding me trying to discuss transitions and support hours, and suddenly so busy they couldn't reply to an email. I also felt weird about the fact they were listening properly, making suggestions that made sense and making offers about things they can do. I haven't asked for meetings, both schools have approached me, made suggestions and told me what they plan. 

But here, they too see what my girls face, why did no one before? Is it because here they know they can support so don't have to lie? I'm not saying they're perfect but compared to what we're used to...

Most of all and most importantly, I trust them. 

I had forgotten what that felt like, to trust those who spend so much time with our children. It's nice to be able to go to sleep without a knot in my stomach and to wake feeling refreshed and not feeling full of dread and anxiety. I feel I am in recovery, I feel I am breathing properly for the first time in years. I honestly didn't realise what they were doing to me until we left. I could see what was happening to my children and knew that needed to change and boy I am glad we took the leap! 

                                    

Frozen!

We were late in jumping onto the Frozen bandwagon but when it happened it fast became an obsession! So, a great way to learn is to utilise these special interests, it is a great way to motivate little minds. 

Today we bought a Frozen magazine (£3.99) and made our own poster with the stickers, and completed lots of colouring and puzzles. 

                                 

What a lovely way to spend the afternoon, all cosy! 

   

Is it Christmas yet?

We are tired, the whole family is tired but on we plod. This weekend was lots of fun as the house is now all covered in Christmas stuff (we had to do it in phases so as to not overwhelm anyone) and we went to the Kings Panto in Edinburgh. It was Alladin and amazing! Vee found it scary and loud but within about a minute I put her ear defenders on and then all was well - she loved it, but did need to wear them throughout. We took a picnic for on our laps and had ice cream at the interval, it's great she is now part of the tradition with her older siblings.

                                   

Her school nativity is on Friday, she is a 'townsperson' and she keeps calling it her danceshow. I think I'll give up correcting her, she doesn't understand or get religious festivals anyway but the advent calendar does come in handy for various countdowns. She does love the presents on the big day though...

Reading is coming along nicely although in true style of someone her age, she is memorising a lot of it and/or guessing but she is doing so well.  I am so impressed with how engaged she is in it and how well she tracks. Books are very important in our house, all of our children are read to daily and were from when they were very small. We embrace technology and use a Kindle too now! 

                                    

Pencil grip is still inconsistent and wobbly for her, I am hoping the OT will assess her properly soon, especially before she has to do more written work as I can see this will evolve into an issue like for her older brother and sister. 

                                    

How motivated Vee is as a learner is what makes this all so much easier for her and for me too! She is full of joie de vivre! 

    

       

Christmas is coming!

Vee isn't phased by much, often because she's too busy pottering away doing her own thing. We changed our library day to Friday afternoon last week so we could take her siblings too. The library has workshops on a Friday afternoon and it was making a stretchy snowman. Vee LOVED it. She had a very clear idea of what she wanted to do (which wasn't following the instructions) and I had to do the cutting but her snowman is brilliant! 

                                  

Religious festivals and holidays confuse Vee, well, maybe that's the wrong word -  she isn't fussed about them and doesn't really understand them. BUT she likes to get presents, so that's what we're counting down to and in her advent calendar there are jelly beans, her favourite sweet. 

                                   

School are working towards the nativity on the 12th and Vee is fully involved. She is getting mixed up with the baby Jesus stuff though but is loving all the singing and dancing. This is somehting she has, in the past, struggled with due to the noise but she is taking it in her stride.No Issues with changes to her morning routine but for a child with autism she always has been pretty flexible about things that aren't her idea in the first place! 

This morning's hard work in school learning the dance moves was rewarded with a sticker, which she is very proud of!