The Education for All bill and choosing a secondary school

 

The new Education for All bill, referred to in The King's speech, sets out some big ideas for world of education in the UK.  If you have any any experience of a SEND child in education you probably know that the current system is highly adversarial.  It feels like a child has be failing to prove they need support, and then you battle for two years to get that, whilst competing with other families for the one school place that could work for your child. 

And that's just the start.  Could this new bill make a difference? It has some old ideas (more mainstream inclusion) and some new ways of trying to support this.  There are a few years before it all happens but schools may start looking a bit different and if you currently have a child in primary with SEND or an EHCP you'll be thinking about secondary schools sooner than everyone else.  What can you do to help with your decision?

Helping my autistic son prepare for exams - creating steps

As my eldest heads towards the end of his time in secondary school, I'm running a few posts to support kids in the run up to their exams.  Today it is about breaking things down into smaller parts. 

Next steps in education for my autistic teenager

I can't believe my eldest son is at the point of choosing his Yr 10-11 options. It really doesn't seem that long ago since we was diagnosed with ASD at four years old.   It's even stranger to hear him talk about things like what he'll do after school or if he'll go to college.  I'm delighted he's thinking about this but like everything with our kids I'm already thinking about how to prepare him.

What I've learned from working in different schools and at different levels

I started teaching in Higher Education when our first son was about a year old.  I was a marketing professional that went back to the agency i worked at part-time - two days a week.  There was a recession at the time and the client base was shrinking so I started to look at other work and came across a college looking for a marketing professional turned teacher.   

How to look at secondary schools for a child with SEND

When your child has special educational needs (SEN) it feels like there is an even greater weight to getting the right school for them. Many children with SEND can attend regular mainstream primary and secondary schools and have their needs met well there. Both our boys have an ASD diagnosis but only one went to a mainstream primary school.  When it came to his secondary transfer what would I share about looking at secondary schools for him?

Finding a school for a SEND child

David is approaching his secondary transition.  For those whose kids are starting on their educational journey, secondary transition is the move from primary to secondary school. It's not going to be easy.  David is a child with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) and needs a whole host of support in order to access education.  

Educational resources for our kids this lockdown

We're back at home teaching the kids.  There's plenty for them to do during this lockdown though.  The teachers have got to grips with google classroom in a big way and it shows.  I mean it makes sense, I'm using TEAMS to teach so why shouldn't they be busy doing meetings and providing materials too?

Back to online learning - 5 things we do to help our kids be safe online

It's back to remote learning.  The internet is a fantastic tool for learning and socialising but, sadly, it isn’t risk-free. For us, it’s vital to recognise the risks associated with surfing the net and to try and implement effective measures to ensure our kids can stay safe online. To get started, we take a look at these five things we can do to protect our kids when they’re using the internet:

What I've learned from working in schools

Did you get any of those 'how to be a parent' books before you had kids or when you were pregnant? I didn't.

Looking for a new school for a child with SEND during the pandemic

David is coming up to his secondary transfer.  In our area, we have to think about secondary school decisions for our children with special educational needs or disabilities up to two years before they'd start there.  Finding the right school is often very challenging but it's even more so like this.

Preparing kids for heading back to school after the lockdown with giveaway

Kids have been away from school for the longest period in their lives. Whilst our kids with autism struggle with these changes, many kids find the transition into and out of school challenging even in normal times. We've found that there are things that can help whatever type of bubble or other system your school is adopting to keep kids safe.

Choosing a mainstream secondary school for a child with SEN

When your child has special educational needs (SEN) it feels like there is an even greater weight to getting the right school for them. Many children with SEN can attend regular mainstream primary and secondary schools and have their needs met well there. Both our boys have an ASD diagnosis but only one went to a mainstream primary school.  When it came to his secondary transfer what would I share about choosing a mainstream school secondary school for a child with special educational needs?

For the first time in his life, he didn’t cry about going back to school

My son Anthony is now 11 years old.  He has been going to school for seven years.  After each holiday he cried several times a day, several days before his first day back at school.  Let's just say half of Christmas was miserable for him.

Our summer wind-down routines in the run up to school

The school summer holidays is always the longest break in routine for our kids. Whilst our kids with autism struggle with these changes, many kids find the transition into and out of school holidays challenging. We've found that there are things that can help.

SportsDay recount from my autistic son

It's nearly the end of the summer term.  That means Sports Day, and Anthony hates Sports Day.  I'd have written 'hates' in all caps if my style guide would allow it. It is the worst day in every school year.  Last year he had a medical appointment that meant he couldn't be at school for the event.  As Anthony said, it was the 'best-timed appointment ever!'

Let’s talk about sex, baby... with our autistic son

Anthony has started taking Sex Ed at school. Well that’s not actually true.. he’s refusing to take Sex Ed at school.

The pressure of inclusion in Christmas shows

Today was Jane's Christmas show. She's in Year 1 now and I've settled into a relaxed routine.  Jane beams with pride at every song, action and line. She waves at me when she thinks no one is looking.  Secretly I know she's eyeing up the lead rolls the Year 2 kids get.  It's a stark contrast to what I'm used to.   Jane's siblings are autistic and having kids with autism in a Christmas show is far more nerve wrecking.

Supporting independence in the morning routine

Mornings in our home are a sort of regimented chaos.  Three kids who all require some form of supervision, two schools to get to and all their gear. Although my kids may seem old enough to be doing a lot of the morning routine themselves, they have a few challenges

Why my son still takes his ADHD medication during school holidays

When Anthony was seven years old we asked for him to assessed for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) because despite all the help he was getting he could not settle or concentrate in class. Six months later he started a controlled stimulant drug to help him concentrate at school. Three years later he has it all the time... even in the school holidays.  Here's why.

When Sports Day is little to do with sport

I loved Sport's Day when I was in Primary School.  Why?  Because in many ways it was one of the few places I fitted in.