Life with Katie

I'm a UK mum to two amazing children through #adoption. Blogging about our lives and #FASD #ARND #ASD #POTS #ADHD #PDA

[Life with Katie @Threebecomefour]

Today I’m writing about something very close to my heart. Education (or lack thereof). So many children are currently not receiving an education. The media calls them the Invisible Children. Are they invisible or ignored?

https://t.co/KudIkPvOIq

[Life with Katie @Threebecomefour]

@Chilly1989 @Tesco Got the same issue.

[Life with Katie @Threebecomefour]

@DanielKebedeNEU @martinimarie @bphillipsonMP More reading tests especially for children with phonological dyslexia will not help. Mainstream schools do not have the resources to teach children with dyslexia. I had to teach my son to sight read myself because he couldn’t cope with phonics. The anxiety it caused led to EBSA.

[Life with Katie @Threebecomefour]

@Telegraph This article shows the lack of understanding the journalist has of the SEND system. For your information EHCP’s are not a certificate. They are lengthy and detailed documents describing the needs of the child, the support they require, and the aimed for outcomes during the year.

[Life with Katie @Threebecomefour]

@lewis_goodall You may be being provocative but, for me, leaving any money I have left to my children who are both significantly affected by autism and won’t necessarily work full-time is a gift I can leave for their well-being.

[Life with Katie @Threebecomefour]

@naomicfisher I think the challenge is that we are still learning about these conditions and there is much research still to do. When you have a child with diagnoses of ADHD, ASD and PDA alongside FASD and Developmental Trauma. Where is the biological and the developmental differentiation?

[Life with Katie @Threebecomefour]

#thebettersister Really loving this series but am wondering why #FASD hasn’t been mentioned in regards to Ethan and his mother being an alcoholic (although the correct term is now AUD). It would explain a lot of the challenges that Ethan has.

[Life with Katie @Threebecomefour]

#JamieDyslexia Sadly watching @bphillipsonMP talking to Jamie Oliver doesn’t fill me with any optimism. She didn’t really make any promises. She seems to think children just need more grit. The proposed Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill will not improve education or outcomes.

[Life with Katie @Threebecomefour]

#JamieDyslexia I was telling my son about you Jamie. He also loves cooking and might want to be a chef. Dyslexia has been such a huge challenge for him. He can’t do phonics and hates reading & writing. He also has ADHD and FASD. Mainstream education was disastrous.

[Life with Katie @Threebecomefour]

#JamieDyslexia Both my neurodiverse, dyslexic adopted children ended up out of school. My son is now in an amazing specialist provision. My late husband was undiagnosed dyslexic and he was so intelligent. The education system nearly broke us. I was blamed for their problems.

[Life with Katie @Threebecomefour]

@AlexAndrews0705 @jamieoliver And those in prison with FASD. It’s a huge number.

[Life with Katie @Threebecomefour]

#JamieDyslexia Thank you for raising awareness of this subject Jamie. I taught my son to sight read after he disengaged from school. I had to laugh that there was a phonics folder behind you when you were talking at the junior school. Phonics are a huge problem for my son.

[Life with Katie @Threebecomefour]

@arsprenga Thank you for your recent video on SEN education. After years of battling for suitable education for my children, it’s a subject close to my heart. I can relate to the powerlessness you expressed and having to close my business to care for my children.

[Life with Katie @Threebecomefour]

@juliette0307 @naomicfisher Same with my son. He’s now in a fantastic specialist school and building up his hours over a long transition. His confidence is building because they understand his needs. His old school didn’t and they blamed me for him not being able to attend.

[Life with Katie @Threebecomefour]

@naomicfisher I was told to stop my son going out with our old pt nanny because he was having too much fun and homelife should be made boring so he’d want to come to school. She was building up his confidence to try and help him feel able to cope in school. 🤦🏼‍♀️

[Life with Katie @Threebecomefour]

@bphillipsonMP At what cost though Bridget? Forcing children into school by threatening parents with fines doesn’t solve the long term issues. Children who are struggling need compassion and schools need the resources and training to properly understand and support them to prevent EBSA.

[Life with Katie @Threebecomefour]

@AdoptionUK @tomgordonLD Absolutely agree. My family experienced what can go wrong when schools professionals are not adequately trained. It’s so important for everyone’s sake.

[Life with Katie @Threebecomefour]

@ElaineNvr I like this!

[Life with Katie @Threebecomefour]

@MichaelRosenYes Part of the problem arises when the government and MSM continue to attribute “sides” to this debate. Labelling everything far right when it’s not far right to have concerns about what’s happening to the country. That’s not racism but we are steered towards believing it is.

[Life with Katie @Threebecomefour]

@naomicfisher I think our children are helping us question how many rules are followed just because someone decided they are rules. If the environment is right for them most children will be happy and attentive in the classroom. If they’re not, do we blame the children or the environment?

[Life with Katie @Threebecomefour]

@KirstieMAllsopp Laying out my child’s uniform the night before would have made all the difference to the anxiety he felt 🤦🏼‍♀️. Neither did touching the magic gate or going into school for 30 mins everyday. We did it for 2 years before he had a breakdown and I stopped the ridiculous attempts.