I know I am very late in wishing a new year, but I haven't had the energy to even write down my thoughts. Last month our lovely learning support worker (LSW) left to start a new role. Whilst she was waiting for news of her role with us, she has applied for a new job as I couldn't be certain of providing her with employment when waiting for the EHCP and personal budget. Of course she got the job! She was fantastic with Charlie, but that meant she was leaving us.

Luckily we had her over the Christmas holidays, and up until the new term, for which I was very grateful. The impact has been immense. Charlie has totally disengaged in the learning with the tutors and his speech and language therapist. It's been sad to watch, and I feel very angry towards our local authority for allowing this to happen.

Charlie has also found leaving the house incredibly difficult, only leaving to go to his dad's house, which thankfully has picked up so I am grateful for that. I have booked us a week away in Sherwood forest to hopefully build Charlie back up again and hopefully help him re-engage into all the things, I know he is capable of.

We have also got a horse riding lesson booked in the next town to his dad's local area, as a way of building a solid routine between my house and his dad's. The horse riding school has an alternative provision attached to it, so I'm hoping exposure to the horse riding might lead to him trying to engage into the alternative provision perhaps, there is always the chance.

I was recently sent some details for another local alternative provision, however, when I viewed the provision, I knew it wasn't right. You just know, please don't ask me how as I can't tell you but of all the provisions I've seen over the years (and there's a lot) I know when I walk out of a place, whether or not that is the right environment for Charlie.

I am very much hoping that the upcoming break will give Charlie a much needed reset. I will of course, update the break.

Georgina x