Although our daughter goes to a special needs nursery attached to a mainstream school, her place needs reviewing when she gets to school age in September. There are three options: stay where she is and have extra support, go to a special school or go into a mainstream setting. We feel that the latter is out of the question due to the complexity of her needs. Where she is now the nursery class is great, but even if she has extra support she will still end up in a class of 30 which is not appropriate at this time. The third option, special school, is really our preferred option due to the more concentrated therapy and smaller class sizes. The big question, though, is what school to send her to? No single school addresses her needs fully as her disabilities, although individually not severe, are complex and all need attention. Her problems are physical, learning, speech and behavioural, all topped off with a dose of ADHD, dyspraxia, ataxia and adoption related issues. Know any good schools?

What makes me really frustrated (here we go again I hear you cry!) is the complete lack of support or advice that we are given by anyone. Found out last week that I had missed the deadline for mainstream schools by two weeks! Also, no one has advised us of any vaguely appropriate alternatives and we are not due for the educational psychologist's assessment until January. I went to look around a special school today which was pleasant and all the children seemed happy, but it was completely inappropriate for our daughter as the children were predominantly autistic with no obvious physical problems. This school was one of two we have been recommended to look around - by a physio! The phrase fumbling around in the dark springs to mind.

Our son came home today and managed a two hour tantrum. He got his SAFO’s back ( a type of rubber splint) which he HATES. He had a pair before and they were so uncomfortable that the suppliers had to remould them. Even the change of colour did not fool him and the tiny rubs were enough to send him apoplectic. I guess that even the promise of wearing his flashy lights trainers will be enough to pacify him tomorrow!