27 April 2006

Tenterhooks

I got a phonecall on Tuesday. To all intents and purposes it was good news, even excellent news, even a happy ending to years of sweat and stress and nail biting and polite negotiations beyond any previous understanding of my ability to remain courteous under fire.

Yeah, right, been there before. After the initial reaction (which was to whoop and go teary eyed as if I'd won the lottery or someone had declared world peace and enlightenment for all), I remembered that news of a ship on the horizon is not, actually, a ship on the horizon; nor even does the appearance of such a vessel mean much unless it then also proceeds to head towards you. Even then there is the issue of whether it truly is on a rescue mission or just blythely and ignorantly set on a course which will run you over.

Cynical? Moi? On the contrary, I have simply learned from bitter experience that it doesn't do to spend too much energy rejoicing on trust, when you are treading water in the middle of the Atlantic (and/or ocean of your choice).

This two day silence, rather these two days filled with high energy procrastination such as playing blogthings quizzes and blitzing someone else's house - these have been my equivalent of the Victorian dead faint followed by smelling salts and fresh air and a day on the chaise longue in the conservatory sipping beef tea, to recuperate. Honestly, there's never an asphyxiatingly restrictive corset around when you could use the excuse.

Did you know corsets were the cause of the earliest Western plastic surgery? Women actually used to have their bottom two ribs removed to allow the waistline to be so severely cinched. Yes I know, I said Western, I acknowledge footbinding came earlier, and head binding earlier than that. Yes, yes I know, I'm doing it again.

So, the deal (given that I'll only believe it when I see it), is this:

The policy makers at County got into a huddle, presumably decided I had them bang to rights for telling me that the school I wanted for son was 'full' and using that as the reason for refusing him a place. They may prefer to deny my assumption or refuse to comment, but for their own reasons they decided to approach the 'full' school yet again and ask them to accept Son as one over the numbers.

The new Headteacher (Yes! Miracle! Between the last time of asking and this one, a new Head stepped up!) - ahem - the new Head looked at the advices and this time said "Well, OK, we could squeeze him in, but he needs a full time INA (Individual Needs Assistant)."

The policy makers, allegedly, agreed to this and increased his statement banding and the amount of funding that goes with it, to allow for a full-time, all-year member of staff to be employed. Just like that, by the sounds of it as a snap decision during the same telephone call. After I've been begging and pleading for crumbs for over two years. %&(^£"&!!

So the school said.......................... yes.

And the final statement should be coming out to me this week, naming the school I wanted all along and giving son the provision I asked for all along.* Wow.

*At which point, however, I start nitpicking to make sure that the INA is listed as a provision in the statement, his/her hours and qualifications specified also, that the other provisions are specific and not the woolly drafts we had before, etc etc etc. Oh, and then I have to raise the testy subject of transport, ie stick my hand out for yet more money. See this is the tension of fighting on behalf of a kid with differences. Even when you so desperately want to throw your hat in the hair and shout Hallelujah, you just know it's not over. It may never be over. Hey ho.

I understand I am supposed to rejoice on the basis that I got the County to comply with more of the law than they usually do - that seems wrong somehow and makes 'victory' (however partial) a little hollow.

14 comments:

Greg said...

Excellent news! I know that, when dealing with the educational needs of a kid with "differences", the end of one battle usually means the beginning of another, but for the moment, Cheryl - bloody good on ya!!

Greg said...

Can't believe I typed "ya" instead of "you" - I hate that! Put it down to over-exuberance.

Miss Cellania said...

Wonderful! Isn't it a pity that you had to push so hard to get them to do the right thing? But victory is sweet.

Ally said...

That's wonderful! Is this the school that he wanted to go to, too?

Re corsets, I have found a wonderful link to a 'corsetry interest site'. Some of it verges on not safe for work so I won't impose a link on you here; but there are some really wierd and wonderful pictures of the way people's shapes actually permanently change if they wear a corset all the time. Apparently if you wear one for long enough your body morphs and you aren't really able to go without it. Odd.

She Weevil said...

So pleased Cheryl. Every tiny cynical bit of my body makes me want to err on the side of caution but in any case this wouldn't not be happening if you hadn't rattled so many cages.

Jennifer said...

What she weevil said.

Oh, hell. I'm throwing caution to the wind and whooping it up. I hope I don't have to crash later, but if I do, let me know so I can be good-n-damned properly ticked off about it.

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

It does my heart good every time I hear news that good things are happening. YEA! Your son deserves it. You've earned it. Every hope I have is with you. The universe will not be thwarted. Look like you've finally got a good headmaster.

Le laquet said...

:o) WHOOP! Hey you nit pick all you want BUT this is good right, sooooo good! *whoops for all of you*

Gareth said...

Excellent. Hope things will now get easier for you, and that you have fewer battles to fight in the future.

Unknown said...

Wow Cheryl - that's amazingly fantastic! You 'lucky' thing you - but then we make our own luck, don't we! Two long hard years of it. And you did it. Puts my measly attempts to shame.

fineartist said...

Oh Cheryl, bless your heart. Here's to hoping that you can finally let your gaurd down and relax a bit. Here's to hoping that son gets the best education possible. xxx, Lori

fineartist said...

Thank you for always being so good to me. You give me courage and strength, you reassure me that there is kindness in this world, and I dig the sh*t out of you, yep! love and stuff, Lori

Doug said...

Congrats on your son getting into the school! A good education is the most wonderful thing you can give your kids.

As for corsets, I hear that for women who have large chests, and a properly fitted corset (not one of those awful things from the Victorian Era), can help support the weight much more than regular bras.

So I have heard...

Anonymous said...

Great news! You are amazing the way you fight for your child. I wish I'd fought a little harder for my eldest, who was listed as special needs all through primary school, but never had any special attention - just the label. Comprehensive school seems a little more switched on, but I'd love to bop some of the teachers. I reckon if a lot of special needs kids were put on gifted and talented programmes it would wake the authorities up. Anyway - good for you! *Hugs*