Big steps for my little man

Back in December last year I wrote about Harry being referred to an Specialist Resource Base this year for support with his delayed speech. We expected him to be there after February half term but that didn't happen. I was quite relieved in a way…until I got a phone call from the SRB teacher informing me that the panel had had their meeting and agreed that Harry could have a place after Easter. We were then invited to have a look around the school in early March with Harry.

Although I knew that it was coming I still cried after the call ended. I had put it to the back of my mind for a couple of months and had hoped that Harry's speech would miraculously improve enough for his move to be no longer needed. At this point he still didn't know that he was moving schools. It broke my heart that this move was needed.

Harry's second Year 1 parent's evening was the week after the February half-term break and after October's meeting I was dreading it. At home we'd seen a little improvement with his writing and reading but not much in the way of concentration despite us making sure that when it came to doing homework there were no distractions (including his siblings!)

I had nothing to fear. Harry's teacher was beaming with pride when she showed us how much Harry had done since the previous term. He had improved way beyond what any of us had expected of him in October. At that time he was struggling to retain information and they wanted to limit his spellings to 2 a week instead of the usual 5 but he had proved us all wrong in every aspect of his education. We were blown away and could see how hard his teacher and TA had worked with him, and most importantly how hard he had worked. He gained more enthusiasm for homework and his reading books and I think it was down to the fact that he finally understood more. We were so pleased.

I had hoped, unrealistically, that this massive improvement would mean he wouldn't need to go to the SRB unit but his speech is still way behind where it should be. He knows how we struggle to understand him at times and he realises that the staff at school often look at him blankly when he spoken to them but thankfully it hasn't affected his confidence at all.

He came home from school one afternoon with a form for after-school tennis club which he wanted to attend but because it's on a day when he'll be at the SRB unit I had to explain to him why he won't be able to go. He took it amazingly well. He said eagerly " So, I'll have old friends AND new ones!" I was so pleased he could look at it so positively.

He was quiet when we looked around his new school but soon went off and played nicely with the other children and was really excited about getting some new uniform. He took it into school for the next Show and Tell session so that he could show it off to his classmates. It had two of his female friends in floods of tears as they weren't aware that he was leaving but he was so lovely to them and reassured them that he'd be with them every Friday. Bless him!

Last week was his last full week at his 'home' school and he has now started to have a few wobbles and tears over not seeing his friends and his Mon-Weds teacher but that's to be expected.

He's excited about travelling to and from school in a taxi with a couple of other children (although I'm not so keen!) but he has requested that I take him in on his first morning and he's looking forward to swimming every week, which his home school doesn't do.

It's a very big change for him, and me, but we just have to stay positive and hope that he sees it as a big adventure. The long-term benefits will far outweigh the worries we currently have but it's still a big step for my little man.