This blog post was written 25/3/2020

Well, today is my 37th Birthday and I am celebrating it with my lovely family that actually want to destroy each other right now. We are on day 2 of a minimum 21 day lockdown and I imagine it won’t stop there. I believe that after this initial 3 weeks that we will be put on at least a further 2 weeks. Only time will tell of course, we just have to wait it out.

There have been some developments tho. Yesterday (Tuesday the 24th) I applied to the mediation service to get a mediation certificate so that I can apply for an appeal on the EHCP and the provision placement. I am told that I need the mediation certificate in order to progress. There is of course an option for mediation, however, given the track record of miss communication, and lack of communication and information between myself and the LA I have decided that mediation will not be the right path and I would like to go straight to the appeal process.

I spoke to SENDIASS this morning, SENDIASS is the governing advice body directed by the LA to ensure independent advice and information is communicated between families and LA. We have had a SENDIASS worker for just over a year a believe, and they fully support my decision to go straight to tribunal. I am being emailed the forms and supported throughout. Because of the current coronavirus pandemic means that tribunal hearings are done via telephone and video links. I would much rather be face to face, but I am being told that it is taking longer than average so hopefully the social distancing will have finished in some part by the time we get there!!

We are all suffering from a bit of cabin fever in here, it is beautiful full sunshine lots of fresh air and good weather, but unfortunately it’s not good to be in the same space for unlimited amounts of time. We end up more often than not very dysregulated and we all suffer. But we all have to do our bit to self isolate and be socially responsible and socially distance ourselves from one another in order to pass through this virus as quick as possible.

So for now, it’s a happy birthday to me, I feel the same volume of meltdowns and stress as ever, I get no break, I still have to take care of 3 children and maintain a home. It’s never a day off. However, I have cake and I’ll have some wine later just so I can celebrate, what a time to be alive.

Georgina x