Three peas in a pod

for the last 4years the beginning of term, has always been quite stressful for me but this year was surprisingly enjoyable and rewarding.

After the second day Of term, I go to pick up Zav from school. He comes out of his class with the biggest smile on his face and points to a shiny yellow badge attached to his school jumper which reads 'school council'. I ask him what does it mean and he says
'I have to help everybody and be good'
I start feeling overwhelmed with such pride. His teacher explains that he has been chosen to be on the school council, representing his class (the asd resource base) he then tells me
'I must wear it everyday mummy, Monday, Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday'

My Zav is on the school council, so so proud

Zach came home from school, first week of term and says

'Do you want to joke mum'
Me: 'pardon'
Zach: 'what do you call an angry pea'
Me: 'I don't know Zach'
Zach: 'a GRUMP PEA'

I laughed so much, I was amazed how funny he could actually be. His first joke.

Zi started at the school nursery, after spending 2 years at his previous one. Spoke to nobody and never made any friends. 3 weeks after starting Zi has spoken with his class teacher and is trying very hard to make friends.

I am extremly proud of my boys and am sure they will continue to blow me away.

I AM PROUD TO BE THEIR MUM

Deal with it

Why do I feel like a failure?

I've been waiting a while to speak with Zachs teacher to find out how things are going with him and what is going to happen with him in the new academic year.

He should be moving up to the next class within the unit which I am very worried about as he has been having even more difficulties than usual.

The last review was cancelled as his teacher was ill - so I haven't had my usual proper conversation with them in a while. So I call them on the last day of term to have a chat. I'm told although he should move up a class, he is going to stay in his current class as not to disrupt him, as he has been very unsettled.

Then the phone went quit for a few second!!

I ask when we can get together to do a review of his statement, they then say yes we need to do that Asap when school resumes in September because we need to talk about other options for Zach!!!

Other options I'm confused, the maximum time in any resource base is 2 years and then the pupil should be fully integrated in the mainstream school. Zach is going into his 4th year in the unit, only does 45minutes of integration and struggles with just that.

I ask what the other options are and they say special school. As they say that a tear rolls down my face.

They go on to say, it could be a long process and there may not be a place in a special school immediately for him, so will stay in the resource base until then.

When I got of the phone I continued to tear up and feel like I had failed him. Why I don't know.

What I do know is that Zach will need even more support than he gets in the resource base and special school will be best for him. I think the initial reaction was the stigma attached to special schools.

So now I'm faced with which is the best special school best suited for Zach.