Mama OWL Blog: Big changes, small steps #LoudnProud

Thursday, 11 December 2014

Starting school has been a pretty big adjustment for both L and E.

For L, moving up to senior school was a massive transition for him. Lots of different teachers, moving classrooms every lesson which involves new people in each class, the sheer volume of extra students he has to encounter on a daily basis, homework, new subjects, a different routine... Secondary school is a monumental change for an 11 year old, never mind one with autism. It has been intense. It has been exhausting. It has been frustrating.

I find myself having the same conversations over and over with him, trying to help him get his head around the changes. Other people haven't made it easy for him. Some students who know his difficulties have used them against him, provoking him until he reacts which he is then (rightfully) punished for, distressing and upsetting him and not allowing him to just BE. The school has been understanding and supportive as well as firm, which is exactly what I would hope and expect. They know he is provoked and if such incidents occur, then both parties are punished regardless of who says what. They have offered extra help with his school work, & I am in regular contact with his head of house & pastoral support as well as an educational psychologist, and his support worker from primary school has been with us every step of the way even now, months after he left. His new tutor is fab & the group are a wonderful group of kids who have taken him under their wing and all look out for him around school. It's tough going, for me, but especially for him.

Last week we went to his very first year seven parents evening, and I'm relieved & happy to say that the teachers I met speak very highly of L, they appreciate his humour and seem to 'get' him, there were of course negatives but we discussed how to help him make progress and do well, and the positives far outweigh any of the things that need a bit of work. The Mister & I are so proud of the effort he is making - it is difficult for him but he really is trying so hard, it is going to be a long road but he is doing so well.

And E, she has been a little champ at school. Starting primary school was a big step for her, after spending almost all of her time solely with me (minus the mornings at nursery) she found "big school" quite scary and intimidating - she is still only four after all. Mornings were difficult as she experienced some separation anxiety and leaving her often resulted in a few wobbly lips and tears. She was fine as soon as we were gone, but these initial couple of months at school have been hard for my little missy moo.

But - last Friday she was named 'celebration learner' in the school assembly for overcoming her anxiety and coming to school with a smile on her face and settling quickly, she has done so well and we are very proud. She also moved up to stage three in her reading a couple of weeks ago, and is delighted to be able to bring home the more challenging books, she has made excellent progress in both her reading and writing and her learning journey at school documents some of the work she has done and what she has learned.

These are only small steps, but for L & E they are massive leaps - and we are so very proud of them both.

I'm this week's #LoudnProud host, and we would love to hear all about your special moments and achievements - I am sure that lots of you have watched school plays, nativities and festive concerts recently, so please do share your posts below. Feel free to grab the badge and we would love it if you could visit others and share the linky love - thank you! The linky closes at Midnight on Sunday, and next week will be hosted over at NotMyYearOff.

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14 comments:

Rachel in Real Life11 December 2014 at 07:10
Wow! Well done to them both. L's school sound amazing, it must be such a relief for you all and how lovely that you still have the support from primary school. And well done to E as well. Primary school is a big transition too; Harry has only recently stopped complaining about going.
SarahMummy11 December 2014 at 07:12
That's amazing! Very well done to them. It seems like they have both settled very well, even though it obviously wasn't easy for either of them. No wonder you are proud!
Dean of Little Steps11 December 2014 at 09:12
I'm so glad your little ones are adjusting. I can imagine how senior school must be frightening for an 11-year-old. But both your kids seem to be doing well - definitely every reason to be #loudnproud :)
Caroline (Becoming a SAHM)11 December 2014 at 19:42
Aw it really sounds like they are doing well and adjusting, it is bound to take time but they are getting there and doing well :) xx #
Ojo11 December 2014 at 21:07
The transduction had been hard here too, even though RJ doesn't have an official diagnosis. It's good that the school is allowing him to grow. Well done little E, so brilliant how she has come around to the school routine x
Unknown11 December 2014 at 21:09
Such a lovely post. We seem to only have negative school experiences recently. Hope Bunny will settle in well when we finally get her into her new school.
HodgePodgeDays13 December 2014 at 17:59
It's lovely to read that they're setting in, it's such an upheaval whatever age and circumstances. Well done!

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