Hi!

I have worked in further education (as a qualified teacher) for the last 14 years. I also have 2 boys who have SENs (Special Educational Needs) and although are both above average intelligence, with the Ed Psych report to prove it, they both find formal education very hard, mentally, physically (they can’t sit still for very long) and emotionally.

I have come to the conclusion that the education system only caters for the round pegs to fit in their round holes.  This is not a dig at teachers, TAs or any of the wonderful people who work in education.  We all do what we can with the time and resources we have.

I believe that the educational reforms just make it harder and harder for the square pegs to fit.  For the past two years, I have taught alternative provision 14-16 year olds. These are the kids who have been permanently excluded for many different reasons.  They may have SENs, troubled home lives, anger management issues, or may just be ‘difficult’. Each one I have spoken to me told a different variation of the same story.  They hated school. They hated the way school made them feel. They felt like outsiders or failures. By the time we got them at Y9, 10 or 11 they were disillusioned and fed up with the whole system.  They felt they were on the scrap heap of life, they were failures.  We did have some successes, some that we managed to switch the light bulb back on, but others slipped through our fingers.

Skware Peg Rownd Hole is not just for children with SENs, not just for their parents, but is for anyone who feels a bit different, like they’re not quite the person society expects them to be.

We are all unique.  We are all amazing.  We all have the ability to sparkle and shine.

I hope these blogs will make you think, make you smile, make you realise there is no such thing as normal.

I hope you will comment, make suggestions, give me ideas for new posts.

If you have read a good book or article, please share it with me – I have plenty of books on my bookshelves I am planning to review over the next few months, and am happy to add to the list.  If you would like to write a guest blog, please get in touch.

My idea for this is that we will build a supportive community where we can forget fitting into the round holes, and all embrace our individuality and who we are, and who we are truly meant to be.

Enjoy!!