Reply Listing |
| Current topic: Social Issues |
|
| Current Question: |
 |
School Experiences |
I'm an auntie of a 3 and a half year old girl, diagnosed with Type 3 SMA last April.
Her parents are in the process of choosing a school and have a dilemma. Do they opt for a larger, lively school with experience of supporting a child with mobility problems or do they opt for a much smaller village school where more individual attention could be given. In both situations extra support will have to be considered especially on a busy playground or going to and from the classroom.
Does anyone have experience of a similar child (she has no siblings) in a bigger school?
On the one hand her parents do not want to isolate her from other children and want her to have as much mainstream experience as possible and maybe the step to secondary school won't be as traumatic. The risk is maybe that she would find a large school overwhelming from a physical point of view. A village school may, however, help her gain confidence in her abilities before making the next step.
Any feedback would be gratefully received. |
| Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 8:59 pm |
|
|
Author: |
|
|
|
4 Replies |
|
| Message |
Posted |
 |
Re: School Experiences |
Hi there - my daughter is 5 and started school in september. Although there is no such thing as the right way or the best way - to us one of the most important thing was one of social interaction. We wanted Katie to attend the same school as all the other children next door, over the raod, up the street etc. Her friends need to be near and accesible and we didn't want her to go to a 'different' school than the area we live on - mainstream or not.
Katie's school is a medium sized (one stream of 30ish per year) but not without problems. In a big school she could be more anonymous (her first weeks she was followed around everywhere! and everyone knows her)and facilities may be better. In a small school there may actually be less resources and less staff time. Go with your instincts with what feels right and what the child is comfortable with.
S. |
|
|
|
|
Re: School Experiences |
| My daughter went to our largish village school (300 pupils) - her 1-2-1 was fantastic but the head made enormous mountains out of molehills and made things a lot more difficult than they needed to be but she loved being with her friends from nursery. She now attends a mainstream school with 1800 kids and copes really well, access isn't ideal but what it boils down to is people - if they want to help you they will but equally they can make life difficult. Why not talk to one of the parent governors at each school, ask them about the ethos of the school, try to get a measure of the difference between what they say they do and what they actually do - talk to parents of existing pupils, do they talk about issues such as disability and minority issues (they should do its on the curriculum!) sometimes its a chasm between the 2. My daugher has just done a week in Spain with the school - but never managed a day trip without a parent in primary so it just goes to show what can be done with the right attitude. |
|
|
|
|
Re: School Experiences |
| i have a 5 yr old son with type 2/3, he went staight into a mainstream school with 500 kids in it, and it goes straight through to juniors, which im pleased with, but i think they are better with bigger schools throw them in the deep end i think, we all know kids with sma are outgoing and can deal with most things , they will have to in the big wide world eventually, just tell them if they do have a any concerns to let you know but luke is lucky the whole school is adapted and he has a great support worker so that helps, in the end you have to do what feels right, or just ask your child see what they say, take them to look at both, hope this helps |
|
|
|
|
Re: School Experiences |
| My Shy daughter(Not all sma kids are out going) attends a large primary school (3 classes per year group) and she attended a small school for her nursery, the important thing to do is visit with and witout your child, talk to other parents at the gate and to govenors, see how easy it is to get to see the special needs co-ordinator and go with where you feel best and most comfortable. Flexibility of thought from any school is a great thing. |
|
|
|
 |
|
© JTSMA, Elta House, Birmingham Road, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 0AQ, U.K.
Tel: +44 (0)1789 267 520 Fax: +44 (0)1789 268 371 Email:
Freephone helpline for families needing support and information: 0800 975 3100
|
|
Registered Charity No. 1106815
Company Limited by Guarantee Number 5137534 registered in England and Wales
| |
