December 06
Well, I’m not sure if this is the correct way but here goes. December has come and gone and Sunbeam was so excited at the thought of Christmas. He loves the feeling special (as we all do) but gets very depressed when it’s all over. He finished his first term at the referral unit and the medication he’s been taking for his stress appeared to start working. He wasn’t getting as stressed and anxious and was only having the odd day when his thoughts become overwhelming. However, since Christmas he has started feeling unwell again, usually an upset stomach, which is very real but caused by stress. Meanwhile the LEA have agreed to finalise his statement but have said they can’t finalise Section 4 which states where his placement will be. We have a meeting planned for January to discuss this so we need to do some homework before it takes place. The LEA have given some indication of their intentions by saying they are thinking of setting up an individual package for Sunbeam which will include a home tutor (probably a teacher expereinced in teaching children with AS who I’ve heard about). The idea is that whilst the package will be individual Sunbeam will be placed in a unit which has yet to start operating. The special needs school have now said they can’t have Sunbeam there because they are unable to meet his educational needs which are above average. According to the headmistress that leaves only one alternative and that is a private special school teaching children with AS! Needless to say the LEA have dismissed the private school even though the “package” including travel to school in a taxi would probably cost as much! The frustrating thing about December is that although we get a break from the stresses of arguing with the LEA virtually 3 or 4 weeks gets wiped off the calendar!