sam'smum

Sam got his statement in record time without his diagnosis of HFA and gets 25 hours per week, which is great. Apparently this was due to my kicking and screaming on the phone every day . However, the lsa(s) dealing with Sam (he has two, one on Mondays and Fridays and the other on the remaining school days) are only mums. They have no formal training and I am starting to wonder what good that does. The special needs school have said that they are assessing Sam to see where his difficulties lie (remember, he is only in reception having just turned 5) and that they will give the lsa ladies advice as to how to deal with these problems. Sam has good expressive skills, the main problem is his social skills and being too self-led (I think this means basically that he only wants to do what HE wants to do, not what the teachers want him to do. To be honest, having seen some of the things they have been learning about I can't blame him. What 5 year old boy really wants to learn about Vincent Van Goch and then draw the sunflowers ???? Sam had a funny day yesterday where he was fine in the morning, threw a wobbly at PE time and "had to be restrained" and then did some lovely work in the afternoon. The special needs lady was supposed to visit yesterday afternoon but didn't turn up due to sickness . Should I make some more noise and demand that he receives more specific help as the school keep banging on at me about his "strange behaviour" (their words, not mine)? Anyone able to share some words of wisdom with me? Thanks all. Janine

Sam's fears are swimming, the sea, the shower (although now that has turned into an obsession as once he's in, we can't get him out), the strimmer and the lawnmower. Actually, once he tries to use the things he is scared of, and succeeds, it becomes an obsession, so when we cut the grass now, he has to have a turn. He sometimes doesn't like the hand driers in some public loos. His obsessions used to be the washing machine (abated), the hoover (again, not bothered now), but currently its books, Postman Pat, Disney, Pasta in Sauce . Hats. A particular Playmobil man who is currently awol and I have been unable to find another. He's really into Peter Pan and wants the Captain Hook outfit for his birthday. Guess who's buying it tomorrow.