Classroom assistant Maureen Farren talks about her typical week with children with severe learning difficulties
Monday
Begin escort duties at 8am and arrive at school in time for assembly. I have worked as a classroom assistant in Foyle View School in Derry, Northern Ireland, for 18 years - the school caters for children aged between three and 19 with severe learning difficulties. A lot of the children also have to deal with physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy and visual and hearing problems, to name but a few.
We have swimming this morning and I take three children today. John, who has Downs Syndrome, is apprehensive about the water and never usually ventures past his ankles. But today he goes up to his waist and as we clap and encourage him, he signs to us in Makaton, 'Crisps for me?' Laughing, we agree as he holds on to the pool edge and jumps up and down. Arrive back at noon for lunch. Two of our children need feeding and as they eat very slowly this can take over an hour. My tummy rumbles as I feed Diane and look forward to my own lunch.
Tuesday
The usual routine in the morning is to check hearing aids, home/school diaries and then do toileting. We use hoists for those children who need lifting. This routine takes a while and is repeated four times a day.
Painting is on the curriculum agenda today. Preparation takes ages as another classroom assistant Michelle and me position children into standing frames or posture chairs so that they are physically able to paint. Some use brushes and easels, some use their hands. After 15 minutes Leona doesn't have any paint on her page, but her face, ears and hair are a gorgeous blue colour! We hang up the works of art to dry, and as the children play with water, we wash paint off clothes and furniture!
Wednesday
Exhausting day. One boy was in a bad mood and hit his friend with a schoolbag. After consoling the victim I got a reluctant apology. Looked forward to relaxing in the sensory room but Diane, who has visual and hearing problems, coupled with physical disabilities, seemed to be out of sorts and cried on and off all day. Our children's favourite equipment isn't the bubble tube, lights or relaxing music - they much prefer the microphone. Leona, who has little speech, can hum an assortment of tunes and does so loudly. We notice Anne, who also is visually impaired, tracking one of the brightest lights as it sweeps across her face and are delighted with her.
Thursday
I take three children to the hydrotherapy pool today. Leona has freedom of movement here that she will never have out of the water. Although she cannot stand unaided she can swim independently. This area is kept warm for the children but is uncomfortably hot for us as we change them and hoist them in and out of the water. At dinnertime I'm feeding Diane and suddenly find myself whizzing across the floor as David pushes me in my wheeled chair over to the window where he asks to go outside.
Friday
Today we get our usual bus for an educational trip. During the summer months we visit parks and beaches, but during the colder months we usually visit the local supermarket every Friday. We allow the children to make a purchase and pay for it and then we visit the in-store cafe. Again, the children choose what they want and pay for it. This simple weekly trip is invaluable to the children, teaching them social skills among many others.
Afterwards we go into the shopping centre to buy chocolate and cereal to make chocolate crispies in cookery in the afternoon. Collette decides she doesn't want to shop and sits on the ground, refusing to get up. We pretend to go without her but she seems unconcerned. We take her by the hand and she walks for a bit before sitting down again. No one wants to carry the groceries and Cathy puts her purchase back on a shelf when she thinks we aren't looking. Meanwhile, John sneaks his into the trolley of Anne's buggy! Fortunately, everyone loves cookery - especially the tasting - and the children have become really proficient in using the microwave.
Home at 3pm, exhausted. I've enjoyed my week but it will be nice to chill out with the family.
