20/01/2024
Our beautiful youngest has instantly got her smile back after we broke some AMAZING news to her.
For months now she’s been down and unwell with anxiety and not having the best life that she deserves, in order to follow her dreams.
Last night we made her dreams come true (and that smile in the photo is her reaction as we handed her a letter explaining what was about to happen).
So, you might ask, what WAS in that life changing letter? …
Being officially diagnosed with autism, the school she was at not only refused to put in place some really simple requirements (REALLY small changes that would have made a huge difference), but the last straw was that three teachers took her into a room, stood over her and forced her to look at her, repeat what they want her to do and other things that make someone with autism never want to return. Basically things that made her lose all trust in the school and teachers.
For a while now in the background this “fight” with the school and governors has got us down (me and Steph Faye) and has affected our time and jobs as well as our mental health and ability to focus during the week as the school was constantly in our backs demanding what they could not support us with.
So we’ve been pondering the reality (pros and cons) of an alternative solution or place.
And after looking at at all the pros and cons, costs and time needed, legal requirements and commitments, we realised that not only is this option allows her to reach much more potential, but is also relaxing and much better for her life skills, academic catch up, social interaction and also fun!
That option, which we described in her letter as “you can now spread your wings and soar” … is that we have both decided together to deregister her from the school system (and follow the official Learning Authority guidelines) is …
Home Education
(Or Home schooling)
🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡
At first I thought this meant sitting in her bedroom on Google!! But I was quick to learn, given that there are 2000 kids already home schooled in Sheffield alone, that it’s a huge learning resource with real skills (as well as the maths and English required from the LA guidelines).
So there’s educational activities, trips, meetups, professional 1-1 home tutoring (of course this is also needed) and many more options in many more topics that school cannot provide.
So rather than learning nothing (due to resisting attendance!!) and staying in bad health as a result, this beautiful girl is now overnight a different person already. She already started eating well and has looked at her new topics of study starting Monday.
We’re on the community groups getting all the advice and working though the ideal timetable to meet guidelines and her interest.
Here goes a better life for us all.
Celebration coming up 🎈🥳🧡✔️