Annual Review Time – Tues 17th Nov 2015

  
It doesn’t seem like a year since the last one, but today saw D’s Annual Review.  A time to sit down with her teacher, together with the Head Teacher and, for part of it, D herself to talk about her strengths, where help is needed to improve and objectives.

It was the first time that D joined the meeting for a length of time, as she’s now in secondary, students are encouraged to join but obviously given the option.  She was unsure whether she wanted to before we dropped her off so it was lovely to see her in there.

It started with D showing us all some photos she’d chosen from the various class activities.  She squirmed and twisted as she spoke in a tiny voice, with lots of prompts but we were so pleased that she’d make the choice to come in.  It’s a big thing, not only being in a strange meeting room, but having your mum and dad there, plus your teacher plus the head teacher – anyone would find it daunting! 

The main message from D’s objectives was that of confidence – it’s an ongoing challenge for her, it has been for years – that it’s okay to make mistakes and sometimes we learn from them (ie spellings) and that, if you’re not happy with a situation within (for example) the playground, it’s okay to say “no” or to walk away.

The confidence (or lack of) issue within activities which are not adult-led have caused D many anxieties this year.  She’s been unable to say “stop it” when another child has bullied her and also lacked the confidence to tell a trusted adult afterwards.  It’s then snowballed in her mind and we’d have an emotional outburst at home time.  

D had gone back to class by this time so we could all discuss this issue, it was a relief to know that school are taking it forward (in terms of the teacher of the other child is aware) and, as it’s anti-bullying week, there will be focus on learning to say when you’re not comfortable, telling a trusted adult etc.

After D’s review last year, I felt absolutely terrified that we’d be told that SN school was no longer appropriate for her, we were told that there may come a point where they’d get as far as they could with her but that her capabilities may overtake what the school could offer (she loves to read and can write, but finds it a challenge).  

I was so scared that she’d be moved against our will (and remembering this, in addition to everything else that’s challenged us the last few years, it’s no wonder I headed off to my doctor for some help roughly about this time last year too).

Today there was no such talk, whilst her intellectual capabilities may be just a few years below her peers, her emotional ones are way below that.  A bittersweet relief that there was no such mention, she (playground anxieties aside) is so settled in her school, she looks forward to going in, heading up to class and it’s always reported that she goes in with a smile (apart from after injection time).

To have any fleeting thoughts that, when I was D’s age, I’d be walking 45 minutes to secondary school with friends,  Saturdays were taken up with spending pocket money on records or lipstick and a Slush Puppy, would be futile.  

Whilst our girl won’t be doing any of that and certainly not in a busy shopping centre, she’s happy, she’s settled and she knows she’s supported and loved and that’s what’s important for her.

I found this image online today, D is very visual so I’m going to print it off and laminate it for her – it might help, it might not – but it’s worth a try.

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