Yep it’s holiday time of year and we are due to go in a few days. We are all really looking forward to having no clearing up to do at home and no cooking for 4 days. However holidays, except caravan ones, bring with them their own problems with MLA.

One of the problems that happens is MLA begins to wet himself occasionally, not a real problem as I am well used it and even though he is nearly 13 we just deal with the mess and ignore it. However the main problem is the the erratic sleep patterns. He is either wakes in the middle of the night and it will take long while to get back to bed or as this morning be up early hours of the morning asking if it’s time to get up or I hear him making himself breakfast. He is genuinely shocked when he is informed it’s 2am and he should still be in bed. We will need to get up early on the morning of our holidays but you can bet your bottom dollar I will have difficulty getting him up.

So what is the cause of these behaviours?  Well it nothing more that anxiety.  Autistics get anxious over very little and stress a great deal.  MLA is stressing over the unknown.  So how do we help overcome these things?  Well one of the thing we do it MLA and sit down and do a social story, a factual piece of writing and drawings of the journey and where we will be staying and things we will be doing.  I do them with MLA  rather than do them by myself because MLA then is ‘in charge’ of his holiday and help to elevate stress. He has a book he uses for all his social stories and will carry it around on his journey.  He will refer to it regularly, particularly when he sees something that worries him, something usually very simple. It does not work 100% but without it things would be far worse for MLA, and for me!

From the BBCTeachers facing ‘classroom MOTs’

Newly-qualified teachers will have the first licences in 2010
Teachers in England will need licences to work in the classroom which will have to be renewed every five years, under government plans.

The proposal, intended to weed out weak teachers, is included in an education White Paper announced by Children’s Secretary Ed Balls.

There is also a guarantee of personalised tuition for all pupils who have fallen behind in English or maths.

Mr Balls said there was a “moral imperative” to support every child.

The children’s secretary said the White Paper, Building a 21st Century Schools System, was based on three principles – “new guarantees for pupils and parents, a significant devolution of power to school leaders … and an uncompromising approach to school improvement”.

‘MOT test’

The licence to teach, to be introduced for newly-qualified teachers from September 2010, is intended to “boost the status of the profession”.

WHITE PAPER: KEY POINTS
Licence to teach
Guaranteed rights for parents
School report cards
Chains of schools
One-to-one tuition
Without a licence, teachers will be unable to teach – but Mr Balls said he did not have any indication of how many teachers would fail the five-yearly assessment, which will be carried out by head teachers.

“It would be foolish to speculate about numbers,” said Mr Balls.

But he said the checks would make sure that schools were “facing up to inadequacy”.

Teachers’ union leaders were divided over the plan.

National Union of Teachers leader Christine Blower was against the check: “We don’t think this is necessary at all.”

Mary Bousted, head of the ATL union, said it would be a “bureaucratic nightmare”.

But Chris Keates of the NASUWT said the licensing scheme would give teachers “the long overdue recognition that it is a high status qualification”.

And head teachers’ leader, John Dunford, said: “We expect our doctors to be up to date when they treat us. It is reasonable for the public to expect teachers to be up to date when they teach their children.”

School ‘brands’

The proposals also included details of how the school report card, which gives parents information about how well schools are performing, will be introduced.

Ed Balls: “We will introduce a licence to teach, similar to other high status professions”
Mr Balls said that schools would be given a single grade – A to D – based on a series of measures ranging from test results and the social background of the intake, pupils’ views, attendance and pupils’ “well-being”.

These report cards, to be piloted from this autumn, will be published nationally for all England’s schools – alongside the test result league tables.

The White Paper also stresses the concept of parents’ having legally-enforceable guarantees in school provision, such as the amount of sport available each week.

Mr Balls said this would be similar to the way that school admissions codes had become statutory.

Michael Gove: “The prime minister promised these things and failed to deliver”
Among the services that will become a legal right will be access to one-to-one and small group teaching for children who have failed to reach the expected levels in English and maths.

The success of this scheme will be monitored by sampling the ability of these pupils in the first year of secondary school who have received the extra catch-up lessons.

The White Paper also calls for high performing schools and education providers to take over their less successful neighbours, creating chains of schools with a shared “brand” identity.

There will be a list of successful schools and organisations accredited to set up such chains – which would mean groups of primary and secondary schools with similar uniforms and brand names under a single executive head teacher.

‘Gimmicks’

Shadow schools secretary Michael Gove said: “Ed Balls has refused to give teachers the powers they need to deal with violence and disruption, such as removing the restrictions on teachers removing disruptive pupils.

“He rejected our plan to give teachers the power to search for banned items. He rejected our plan to let schools make parent contracts compulsory.”

Dismissing the proposals as “new gimmicks”, he added: “Instead, he has opted for a one-to-one tuition programme that was ineffective – and over budget – when piloted, and a ‘September Guarantee’ for which the funding doesn’t stack up.”

Mr Balls also announced that his department was going to intervene to improve children’s services in Milton Keynes. He also spoke of concerns over progress in Leicester, Gloucestershire and Blackpool.

4 Months ago I bought MLA a new bed and not having much money coming in it was a budget bed from good old Ebay. The seller had good feedback so I went ahead with the purchase. It arrived in good time and all appeared fine.

In the meantime we are building MLA a separate bedroom off my large lounge and had needed to move MLA bed into the new room. We lifted the mattress of the bed frame and were horrified. On the metal slats was the imprint of MLA, including his head and feet. The slats were is bottom goes is very deeply bent and in danger of breaking causing a great risk of impaling MLA. So I contacted the company who sold the bed to me. I had an almost immediate reply stating that 4-6 months for a budget bed was an acceptable amount of time for a bed costing x amount to last. I sent an email back to the seller stating that Consumer Goods Act 1979 and the fact the fact the bed was not of suitable or durable quality nor fit for purpose. I had another reply back simply saying ‘you’re are still not getting a refund’. Stupidly the representative of the company had sent emails stating their unwillingness to act within the law.

Whilst awaiting a rely I also contacted Consumer Direct to check that I was legally correct.  After the chap I spoke to stopped being shocked and surprised at the email stating a budget is only made to last 4 months he gave me advice.  First piece was that under the law (in the UK) any goods under 6 months old that become faulty are deemed to be faulty from manufacture and I should be offered a repair, replacement or refund albeit maybe only partial after taking into account the length of time the bed has been owned and used. I was also told to write to the company, sending it via recorded delivery, giving the company 14 days to rectify the matter or I will take them to the small claims court.  The site also has letter templates and was directed to one of those in order the wording is correct.  So this is where I am at and I shall be sending the letter off today. A side effect of contacting Consumer Direct is that I have no choice as to whether or not they contact Trading Standards and if they feel they should contacted they will contact them, just as it sounds like they have done in my case. That was going to be my next phone call, so saves me a job!

I have not named the company as yet for legal reasons….YET!

MLA has started his dog show season and after a rocky start he had a brilliant result today.

He entered is little dog into all the novelty classes as she is a non pedigree. The first class today was best condition and the judge put all the dogs through their paces then made a decision.

MLA got a 1st which meant he would be in the unbeaten dogs class. An achievement in it’s self.

He didn’t fair to well in the other classes but they are only fun classes and not important.

Then the unbeaten dog class arrived and the dogs went into the ring. The judge lined them and within seconds MAL was called for the winner of  Best in Show. Brilliant we thought, he got the rosette. But that is not the reason why MLA was so excited and came bounding over to me shouting, grinning ear to ear.

‘I got the trophy, I got the trophy’

He should have been doing a victory lap but was jumping around in such a state of excitement that he completely forgot about doing this.

The judge then came over to us as the judging team were having a chuckle of delight at this lad bounding around and his little dog doing the same beside him. It was then I was told he would be getting a trophy and I needed to give MLA’s name and address for their records and go off to the secretaries tent to collect it . So I duly went off to the secretaries tent thinking he was going to get one of these tiny plastic type trophy cups as a token, but how wrong I was. He actually won, for a year any way, a cut glass and silver trophy and MLA name will be engraved on said trophy for prosperity. MLA was elated, he could not believe what was happening. He could not believe that he won a REAL prize even if he only has it for a year. He could to believe his name will be engraved for all to see in years to come.

So now we have to wait for 2-3 weeks before we pick up the trophy which will be going pride of place in the glass cabinet.

As for his little dog, well she knows how well she did and she won a bag of top quality dog food which she tucked into with gusto when she got home and is now fast asleep on the settee. Even the cat tried to get in on the act and ate the dog food!

 

Pictures of the trophy will be put on later when we collect it.

Today BB had her sports day, which she said was 3 boring hours of having to sit still and not really seeing anything. However the day was interrupted by the arrival of an ambulance with blue lights flashing.  A 1st year boy from the school was rushed to hospital after he had been beaten to a pulp and jumped on like a trampoline by a 3rd year boy from the school. Why? Because it would appear the 1st year boy was annoying the 3rd year boy and he, as the rumours put it, ‘lashed out!’ At this point I was stunned and pointed out to very strongly to BB that a boy having to be ambulanced to hospital is not the victim of a ‘lashing out’ he was a victim of a severe beating and nothing justifies that!

On a short search on the net for the High School I find this is not the first severe beating that has taken place at BB school, it just another in a long line of them.  Why not change schools I hear you say.  Well it’s simple they are ALL like it and aggression is becoming more and more indicative of the Scottish culture.  It’s no longer the Glaswegians, and the Gorbals (infamous for being a deprived and rough area, all though this is changing) that have the reputation of being violent and no go areas.  You don’t go into the small town, almost a large village, that is my local area after 5pm because that’s when the gangs start to arrive.  Not so long ago the town was rocked by every shop window being smashed, air pellets being fired at a school bus and cars smashed.  After that event the area is now patrolled by community officers all night and every night. 4.30pm arrives and you see the patrol start to meet and make their way to the town then take their routes.

If these towns and schools round here were inner city areas one would expected it more but no these are children who have come from rural areas and very small towns doing this.  We are also not talking about low level violence but full scale beatings, gun and knife crimes.  Little children of 9 and 10 are being beaten for their 11p they have in their pockets and a mobile phone, by adults, in the nearest city for instance.  Whilst it’s being reported that crime, and particularly violent crime and vandalism, is reducing in the county my particular area it is increasing, and at an alarming rate. 

As for the school beating, well I shall one be waiting to see what happens and shall be asking questions if the opportunity arises.  I also hope the boy recovers well and his parents do press charges!

Today was MLA swimming lesson day and per usually he spent the first minutes of his lesson sorting out his nose peg he just has to wear. He then began his lesson, and the girl that instructions him appears to have to got to grips with what it means to be autistic and ensured she spoke to him directly.  They are very good with at the swimming pool any way.

He began with kicking on his front using a float then using one arm plus float, then the other. Next he went on to his back again starting with just kicking using a float then one arm then the next. The then did the back stroke with out a float and it’s then a tear came to my eye as I watched him.

MLA was grinning from ear to ear, truly believing he was doing the stroke correctly which was lovely to see. My attention then drifted to the other children doing the same thing, but were half his age. They had the stroke down pat and were seemly effortlessly going through the water whilst MLA was splashing every where and was really making a meal of it. It was this that bought a tear to my eye as it bought home just how ‘different’ he really is and just far behind in his development he is becoming as he gets older.

Whilst I had already realised just how behind MLA was becoming and have come to terms with the fact that he could never cope with secondary school education and probably never hold down a job and he will probably never become fully independent there are just some things that remind you and bring all those feelings of loss and grief flooding back. Grief at the loss of what could have been, the grandchildren, the pride of watching your tall beautiful blond blue eyed boy grow into a handsome man and making his own way in the world. The grief that you know he will either have to live with you or his sibling. The grief that you know your daughter, his sister, will have to find a job that she can still look after her brother and find a man who will also take on the responsibility of a vulnerable adult. BB has always known this and sees this has her future, not with disappointment or upset but with loyalty to her family and brother, her twin. The grief that as you grow you know your son will grow old with you instead of blossoming with his own little family and sharing the joy of children and life!

Nursery school teacher ’sacked for spraying smelly children with air freshener’
A nursery school teacher has been sacked for spraying “smelly” young children with air freshener and forcing others who soiled themselves to remain in dirty clothes.

By Daily Telegraph Reporter
Last Updated: 3:38PM BST 22 May 2009

Elizabeth Davies, 48, was accused of “humiliating” the children, aged between three and six, who accidentally wet themselves.

She allegedly sprayed them with the air freshener, forced them to wash their hands in pure disinfectant and ordered others to stand on newspaper until their parents came to collect them.

An investigation by education chiefs also found she forced young children who had soiled themselves to remain in their dirty clothes.

Mrs Davies, a nursery school teacher with 20 years experience, was sacked from her £34,000-a-year job at Hafod Primary School in Swansea, South Wales, amid child protection concerns.

One student’s mother described it as “humiliating” for the children.

She said: “She was an experienced teacher but the way she treated some children was disgraceful.

“It was humiliating for little children and it caused a lot of tears.”

She added: “A lot of children have accidents at one time or another – they should be comforted rather than punished.”

Mrs Davies was suspended on full pay for 18 months while an investigation was undertaken.

But a disciplinary hearing upheld all the allegations against her and her appeal against the ruling was later dismissed.

Beverley Hopkins, chairwoman of the school governors, said: “As this is an internal staff matter it would be inappropriate to comment.”

Mrs Davies, of Cilfrew, Neath, was unavailable to comment.

On Sunday both BB and MLA were playing outside and trying to enjoy themselves. I say trying because the 6 year old boy next door had one his friends round and were tormenting BB and MLA and as per usual throwing stones at MLA.  After about an hour of this BB shouted on me to come out to the barn, and she was very insistent and loud. I immediately went out to see what her distress was and found my neighbour from hell (NFH) staggering up to the barn swinging a very large glass of white white that she proceeded to thrust in an aggressive manner to my children whilst shouting.

‘why can’t you all play together nicely’

BB told her no and so did I where by said under the influence neighbour spieled into a barge of abuse aimed at me. I did not answer but told the children to come indoors to get away from her and the abusive boys. I went in one entrance of the house the children unfortunately in the other. She then took her opportunity to abuse MLA, not BB who would have something to say to her but a vulnerable autistic boy.

‘don’t YOU want to play with the boys’ she slurred

‘NO WAY’ he shouted and ran in the house.

As he did so she scream at him

‘well your going to be a very sad little boy with no friends and only BB as a friend!’

This inappropriate to say to any child, or indeed any humane being, but to say this to an autistic child is nothing short of a disability hate crime. She knew full well that to say this to BB would not have the same impact and that MLA vulnerability would be attacked. Therefore she was aware of the impact her abusive statement would have and therefore despite her being drunk was a deliberate act of a hate crime.

I immediately called the police and reported a breach of the peace and after my statement was taken I was given an incident number which my solicitors say means that the incident was taken seriously and suspect the NFH received and police warning. Certainly by her loudness and her throwing of things round the house suggested more than a friendly chat took place. My NFH did herself no favours though because she was heard by BB shouting at the officers and the officer telling her to calm down, if she didn’t receive a warning regarding her abuse to me and MLA she would have done regarding that and just proved what I was saying about her demeanour.  Clearly they spoke to her about my complaint also to provoke such a reaction.

But this is not the end of the story. Whilst the police were at my house they received another call, yep from my NFH making a complaint about me!

I can only hazard to guess what it was about because the police didn’t come back and speak to me about and would not say what it was…child abuse again. The Police officers saw both children on Sunday and one officer even commented about what a lovely little girl BB was and very sensible and grown up, MLA they where not allowed to speak (their words) to because of his autism, that requires a specially trained officer. But needless to say they were both satisfied the children were healthy and well cared for.

After the call to the police I call the Anti Social Behaviour Team hot line.  They called me back within 30 mins and have passed my details onto the relevant office to start a file.  I am awaiting for a call back from them.

I spent much of Monday mopping up the fall out caused by my NFH by seeing my solicitor and telling him what happened.  I also took BB to see her guidance teacher at school as she was too frightened to go to school on Monday.  She received some counselling and was told to take at least 2 days for compassionate reasons.  The guidance teacher will also speak to all staff outlining the brief details and telling them to be on the alert for repercussions from any relatives of NFH at school.  If there are any they will be dealt with swift and severely, which my include involving the police. I was also assured that said guidance teacher would counsel BB through any court case that may occur.  I know this will happen at BB’s school as she has had problem with a bully at the school in the past and that was stamped at the first hint of any recurrence after the first disciplining of the bully.

I then went to the bus company that buses BB to school about picking BB up at another pick up spot when she returns to school.  They were very obliging and more than happy to accommodate this request.  The bus company is also very good when bullying happens as I have spoken to the driver regarding the bullying at school and the threats for it to spill out on to the bus journey to and from home.  The drive was more than happy for BB to sit in the seat behind him and ensure she was safe whilst the school sorted the matter out their end.

I also rang the social work team who wrote regarding the bogus child abuse report and asked if there is anything they can do.  They can’t and that is so maddening because if I had these things to my children they would be round like a shot after me but my NFH can say them and all I can do is call the police and hope they deal with it.  But still they are now fully aware of my NFH disabilism and the fact she is likely to make a further allegation of child abuse. But one thing they did tell me is I had acted in the correct manner and yes, the comment was wholly inappropriate and in their opinion a disability hate crime as she used MLA venerability to really hurt him emotionally.

I am content in the knowledge that I have done the correct thing in my reports and the agencies are pulling together to support not only myself but more importantly my children who should not have to be subject to someone else’s drunk display of aggression particularly in the very rural area we live.

Yesterday MLA went to a new dog trainer as the old dog trainer had made it very clear that she was not going to allow him to move out of the puppy training class. Aside from the fact I was annoyed at this MLA and his dog were not going progress any further with obedience or agility and both were bored to tears.

The new trainer trains in a completely different way, and a way that had the dog wagging her tail furiously. She clearly enjoyed it. MLA found it a little confusing as it was so opposite to what he has been doing but it was very clearly that the dog was using her intelligent brain again and enjoying it.

The down side it that it’s a little more expensive and a little further away and in the evening till late but I think that both MLA and his dog will gain more out of it. I also notice that one of the trainers clients had an extremely severe stammer but the trainer did not make any reaction to the stammer at all, not even in body language.

I never did like the old trainer’s method of stopping pulling by the use of a choke chain, the new trainer does have them on any of the dogs. There is no need when you have a juicy sausage in you hand for them!

MLA did his usual bed time routine last night and then got up, as usual, as he wanted a drink. All was fine for a while but things went very quiet and he hadn’t come out of the kitchen so I went to investigate. He was not in the kitchen but the bathroom light was on and the door wide open. On the floor just outside of the bathroom where bloody tissue’s and more in the bathroom. I went into the bathroom and there was MLA standing with a bloody tissue and he was holding it up to his mouth. I asked him what he had done and he told me he had some hairs on his top lip, he is only 13, and he didn’t like them. I asked him again what did he do and he told me he used a razor. Not any razor but the an old blunt razor and he had used it dry with no soap or water. As it would not remove the couple of tiny hairs he had pushed harder and harder and faster in his frustration resulting in him slicing his lip, and lips bleed and bleed!

I put pressure on the cut to no avail. I then put a small pressure pack on the cut and left it there for 15 Min’s. The pack quickly filled with blood but did manage to make a small clot, enough for me to put a steri strip on to close the wound and stop the bleeding completely.

So today MLA is spotting a swollen lip and a steri strip on the top of his lip. As for razors, as MLA is now almost as tall as me I can’t keep them out of his reach and I am going to have to get through to him he does not touch the razors without me being there. He doesn’t need to shave yet any way, but it’s just another problem with puberty for him and his changing body.

I fear there will be more troubles ahead!