Our daughter
Shauna did not get into the school of our choice and we decided that we
would not appeal, and
This time it was different yet again as I had to look at the school
in a whole different way. I particularly worried that Shauna would not
be seen as an individual, and my first meeting with the head of pastoral
care was not encouraging when she said "we have another down's child" I
quickly pointed out that it was important that Shauna was seen as an individual.
A meeting was then arranged with the SENCO and the head of year. I made
a book of all Shauna's achievements ( which are numerous) and took
this to the meeting.
I explained that this was Shauna, this is who they were getting.
Shauna took a couple of months to settle in but soon joined the choir, the drama group, the German club and has just recently swam for her form.
She loves school, she still has the same classroom assistant who
is a huge help.
I approached the first parents evening with not knowing what to
expect. I was so surprised, the school had taken on board my concerns,
and I can only say that Shauna has been seen very much as an individual.
One teacher said she looked forward to Thursdays because Shauna would be
in her class. We are very pleased with Shauna1 s progress, she works hard
and we are very proud of her.
Margaret Hogan
"By the time you read this, Joe will very near the end of his first
year at secondary school - where does the time go? He did not appear to
be in the least bit bothered about moving from primary to secondary school
and I can honestly say he took to it like the proverbial duck to water!
He couldn't wait to put on his new uniform and get on with it.
Apart from feeling a bit tired for the first couple of weeks, which
was to be expected because he had a lot more walking to do as he went from
lesson to lesson, he settled in really well. It didn't take long for him
to find his way around and to learn his timetable and he is now able to
remind me on which days he needs to take in his PE kit etc.
The school has been very supportive and welcomes contact with parents so any little problems which have arisen have been dealt with promptly. It was also a big help that liaison between the primary and secondary schools was good which enabled Joe to visit his new school several times whilst in Year 6."
Pat Baxter
He
moved from Juniors in September 2003 along with his peers to the local
secondary school. As usual. Christopher was their first pupil with Down
Syndrome.
We had a fairly horrendous time at Infant school (where again, he
was their first pupil with Down Syndrome) where there seemed to be little
understanding of the condition despite our efforts to explain it which,
we must point out, was a totally different attitude to Junior school where
Christopher was regarded as just another pupil who needed extra help -
just as it should be.
Secondary school was an unknown quantity.
Would he have a smooth transition? Would they be willing to learn?
Would Christopher be able to cope with finding his way around a much larger
school? Would he be bullied by the pupils that didn't know him? All these
thoughts ran through our heads as September approached.
We had been fortunate that his ESA had decided that she wanted to
follow him to secondary school and was allowed to do so.
His ESA is excellent. She knows just when to assist and when to
stand back. Christopher works well with her and she has made a point of
learning as much as she can about DS and integration into mainstream and
is always keen to learn more.
Well, yes, he did have a smooth transition which he just took in
his stride as part of growing up.
Yes, the school and the Senco were willing to listen and to learn
and to put into practice what they were advised. They also read and accepted
the wonderful "Including Pupils with Down's Syndrome" publication from
the DSA which we gave them.
Yes, Christopher found his way around the school with surprising
ease to the extent that, when the first "meet the teacher" day came around
a few months later, he was showing us the correct way to the classrooms.
As far as bullying is concerned, apart from - literally - two slight incidents
which the school dealt with promptly, there have been no problems to date.
We should point out that with the second incident, other pupils were involved
and only Chris had the extra needs. It was really more a case of tomfoolery
that bullying.
During his first year, Chris did the same work as the rest of the
year (albeit toned down a little to suit his needs). In this, his second
year, he has been placed in smaller classes for some subjects (still taught
by the subject teacher and still following the curriculum but at a slower
pace). Chris has benefited from this and is able to follow and learn subjects
to a degree that we would have though impossible ten years ago.
At a recent meeting with the teachers, each of them commented on
his good behaviour. willingness and eagerness to learn and his steady progress
in all subjects. He did actually receive a gift token for attendance and
behaviour last term.
The school has over 200 pupils with statements, we believe, so they
must be congratulated on their policy of integration with Christopher .
Have we just been lucky?
We don't know. What we do know is that Chris is doing well at ffchool
and, perhaps more important, he enjoys going to school and is progressing.
He has benefited from learning with his peers, participating in
all aspects of the school (including a week in Colomendy in his first year
there).
He is first and foremost a pupil of the school and secondly, he
has additional needs. They have never made Chris out to be a problem (all
too common in some schools) but have accepted that any shortcomings lie
with them and need to be addressed by them - not Chris.
A really good example of putting the pupil first. We hope that this
will be repeated in other schools throughout the area.
We don't know what future years will bring but we have already started
discussions with the Senco regarding attending college (part-time at first)
when the time comes to be thinking of leaving school. That time seems to
be approaching very, very quickly.
To those whose children are approaching the transition to secondary
school, we would say this. Our kids can surprise us and, regardless of
our fears, have a knack of showing us to over-concerned worriers. I think
most of us will fit into that category. We certainly did!
Colin <& Marilyn Hill
N.B.
Parent Partnership Service
Is offering information sessions for parents about the transfer
to Secondary School for children with SEN.
• Parents of children at School Action/School
Action Plus
• Parents of children with statements
Please call Kelly Hargreaves for information 0151 2332826
Tel (0)23 9285 5330
| Mrs Marie Crist
In respect of her late husband Francis Crist (grandad of Amy Crist) |
£295 |
|---|
I'll wrap up now bur before I do, please be advised
that the newsletter is also published on the web which, loke every other
site on the web is available for the world to see. If you are in any way
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know and we will not publish them on-line.
Please read our disclaimer here.
for more details.
Stay at peace with the world,
Glen Fletcher,
DSL Newsletter editor.
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All views expressed in this newsletter are the personal
views of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of
Down Syndrome Liverpool