TylersMum

That particular Councillor has, thankfully, stepped down. I actually work for the Council so have to deal with Councillors on a regular basis, most of them are great but its those like Dr Lister that give Swindon the bad name it is trying to shake off. The help/support we've had for Tyler has been excellent, its just the odd 'clanger' that undoes all the good stuff!!!! At least I had my say, quite directly, with the 'crayon' thing!!!

Just saw this other response to the same article: Proud parent I AM writing in amazement at the ignorance of some people. I am referring to the comments of Mrs McCormack in your article "Bright girl put in bottom class" (Friday September 16). Mrs McCormack is quoted as saying: "I do not want my daughter colouring in with crayons while her friends are preparing for their GCSEs." As a parent of a child with learning difficulties I can assure her that they do not spend their day colouring in with crayons! They are working very hard to overcome their individual difficulties and ignorant comments like these do not help. A very proud parent of a hard working child. MRS WICKS Go Mrs Wicks - whoever you may be!!!!

This is the original article, front page spread: Bright girl put in bottom class From the archive, first published Friday 16th Sep 2005. A BRIGHT schoolgirl could be dumped in a special needs class because of a shortage of places. Shona McCormack, 14, of Freshbrook, is at the centre of an education storm. Education bosses have ruled that Shona ? who is meant to be studying for her GCSEs ? must be found a place at Greendown School. But headteacher Steve O'Sullivan insists there are no places. Now it is likely Shona will be placed in bottom sets ? which do have a handful of places ? alongside less able children. Her parents are furious about the decision, claiming their daughter's education will suffer. Mum Yvonne, 49, said: "I do not want my daughter colouring in with crayons while her friends are preparing for their GCSEs. "The work will not be challenging enough for her. She is a bright girl and is very good at languages ? she wants to be an interpreter when she is older." Mrs McCormack and her painter and decorator husband, George, 37, who had lived in Swindon for 20 years ? encountered problems in May when the family returned to the UK after 12-months in Lanzarote. Shona ? a former Ridgeway School pupil ? was told she could not return there as there were no places. Greendown and Bradon Forest schools were also full. The family contacted Swindon LEA, which arranged a meeting on September 6 and an appeals panel ruled a place should be found for Shona at Greendown. Mr O'Sullivan was unable to attend the meeting due to other commitments. He claims he was not told of the meeting until September 1. He says Year 10 is at maximum capacity with 285 pupils. All the top sets for core subjects like maths, English and science are full and the only vacant places are those in lower sets ? designed for pupils who struggle with academic work. Mr O'Sullivan said: "I will be writing to Swindon LEA to express my disappointment. "The LEA do not have a full understanding of how schools are organised ? you only get that when you design timetables. "This is not good for the school and it is not good for Shona. We will try to accommodate Shona as best as we can but we only have a certain number of desks and if we are at capacity there is not a lot I can do. "We will do our best until there is movement in the groups. "It is proven that high class numbers leads to lower achievement. I have to consider the impact on other pupils at Greendown." Shona, who has not received any formal schooling since leaving her �5,000-a-year school in Lanzarote, said: "All my friends have started their coursework ? I'm being left behind. "I am getting really stressed by all this. I just want to learn." Coun Garry Perkins, Swindon Council's lead member for education, said: "The decision was made by an independent panel. "It is unfortunate the head could not attend the meeting to explain the school's position. "It is now down to Mr O'Sullivan and Greendown to ensure the girl gets the best possible education. "Knowing Mr O'Sullivan I am convinced that the girl will get that." A special needs teacher with 20 years experience working in Swindon Schools, who has asked not to be named, said: "Every child is different. The LEA just wants to place a child somewhere but if you put a child who does not have any kind of learning disability into a low group that child will become bored and frustrated. His or her education could suffer." And then THIS was my response, printed the next day: RE: Bright girl put in bottom class. While I agree that every child is entitled to an education at the right level, who does Mrs McCormack think she is, stereotyping those who are less academic? She doesn't want her daughter "colouring with crayons" while her peers are studying for GCSEs. The woman obviously has no idea of special needs or how these children are taught, maybe that is due to 12 months abroad, putting her daughter in a �5,000 school. If only special needs children had such exposure, maybe "colouring with crayons" wouldn't be on the curriculum for them. N Funnell The cheek of the woman, I was hopping mad!!!!!

Fits and starts for me - most of my posts are while I am at work

also looking forward!!!!

My first meeting is Weds 28th Sept, so I'm really looking froward to that

<'> <'> <'> Flutter, Was there 6 weeks ago. The first few days were all over the place but afterwards, he was still the same little sweetheart and everything was fine. <'> <'> <'>

Spot on Ben Potential NASA executive, me thinks

Just wanted to share because I'm pretty proud of myself. Tyler started school last Monday and I have been in touch with some Parent Governors and have been proposed and seconded onto the school Board! Feel dead chuffed that I am actually going to have some say in the future of Tylers school and his education

Flutter, Wish I had practical advice to give you but can only offer support and cyber hugs <'> <'> <'> Keep your chin up x

Its so hard to stick with the same decision. One minute I am thinking that another one wouldn't be so bad even if they were ASD or any other type of SN child - Tylers wonderful. But then I think how hard it would be on the kids I already have and our lives in general - is it selfish to have another, for my own sake? or selfish not to? I guess only time will tell. When the time is right we will have the discussion and see how we feel but your comments have helped, so thanks. Another dimension is that our mortgage payments increase in 2 years and our plan has always been that dh will be in full time work then because both kids will be at full time school so another baby would cloud the waters in that respect, although financial considerations are massively high on the agenda. In the meantime I'll enjoy the great kids I have. x

Hi Elaine, I found out 4 weeks ago that I have a tumour on my pituitary gland. Its giving me blinding headaches but they are easily treatable and not life threatening, maybe thats what they suspect?

Nikki, Thanks so much for your post; its tough and I think I would also struggle with my emotions if I found out I was having a boy. Can also see your point about each being special - I wouldn't change my kids for the world. Nicki

Congratulations - and sorry if I worried you <'>

If babies came with broadband, maybe I could have ordered one online to be delivered to my door (like shopping) instead of going through labour

Oh dear. I think you need to voice your concerns, in a nice way, to the teacher sooner rather than later, so that if she does go off on maternity leave, there can be a reasonable period for handover so Tyler can get used to his new LSA. As for your suspicion that he isn't getting what he needs, I would be talking to someone about that tomorrow. The worst thing that can happen is you are wrong and even then, you are just a mother looking out for her son. No-one fights their corner for them except for us. Good luck <'>

Fair point. Its only one panel that requires that level of income, the rest that I am involved in are completely open to everyone, working or not!

Can see your point, but the fact that these surveys are aimed at all economical levels of society demonstrates that ASD is not just something that happens to the less wealthy. Broadband now costs the same as dial up did 12 months ago. Those who are cash-rich (not me, by the way) still face the same battles and daily issues as everyone else and no amount of money is ever going to change that. Private treatment instead of NHS doesn't make a jot of difference to a child with ASD, trust me! The survey I mentioned relates to marketing products and my input simply allows them to collate views on new products for kids (nothing to do with special needs) in general. They then sell the data back to Johnsons or whoever the manufacturer is. Incidentally, Tyler was diagnosed at 4, had a statement at 4 and has had LOTS of help from various groups but thats just because the people we were involved with were excellent, and they all worked for the NHS - none of Tylers assessments have been done privately. Swindon rocks for help with these things!!!

Excellent. Shall wait for them to send my password etc.

All signed up. I am also a member of a research panel based in America. You have to earn �37,000 per annum+ to participate but they send me �10 sterling every time I complete a questionnaire - very nice

I managed to wait until lunchtime before I rang to check on him - all these little Tylers off to school......

Viper Forget about playschool - he didn't go and whether that would have made a difference or not is beside the point. Don't crucify yourself with added extras at the moment, just concentrate on Ben getting used to school <'> Why don't you use a reward system, I used one when I was potty training Tyler, he is also HFA, which worked a treat. You can stop when he is used to school and OK with going there. How about a treat on the way home - maybe going to the park, or whatever he likes doing. Have the school got any ideas about what you might try to help with situation? They must have experienced this before. Keep your chin up, the fact that you are upset about Ben being upset shows that you are a good parent, but we all need a bit of independence and school may well give Ben that. Good luck and keep posting. <'> <'>

Thanks for all your replies - I knew this was the right place to bring it up. In my heart of hearts I think that because Tyler is ASD, maybe Emma does lose out a little with attention, and if we had another, more severe ASD child then Tyler wouldn't get as much as he gets now and Emma would get even less. Fortunately my two get on, they might sometimes have a ikkle fight, but they, thats kids! They are generally great together and I don't want to spoil that. I feel guilty enough about going to work, without having to split my time with them 3 ways instead of just 2. I don't think I am as keen as dh to have more - he is adamant, ASD or no ASD that he wants more kids, and his argument is that HE is the one at home with them. What he doesn't seem to grasp is the effect it may have on the whole family Anyway, thanks <'> for your views, they help.

I posted on this a while ago - my ds is 5 on 26th September. I'm watching with interest....

Good for her - I wish her and her family all the best