We are almost through our first year since taking the boys out of school, and they are happier than ever before.
It was a long, hard 9 months of recovery, which is why I was so scarce...
Anyways - I accidentally found a homeschool support program for HG+ kids, and it's about 5 minutes from my front door! We took Aiden there and they offered him a place, even though he is at least a year younger than they usually like to admit. It's run from the woman's home (who specialises in HG+ kids (esp boys) and has a bunch of qualifications and education innovation awards) and he will go 1 day a week. He went last week and "didn't do much" - only learnt about the origins of the modern clock, how the tides affect time, some maths, some geography, some writing, art, played cricket, swam, went for a walk and played xbox and a few other things. He cried when it was time to leave and is counting the days till he can go again. There are only 3 boys in his group on that day, and he gets along (so far) so well with both of them.
I am optimistically hopeful that this will be what we have been searching for - that we will find the help we need in discovering both his ability level and the worrying block/issue he has in reading/writing (they picked it up within his little 30 minute informal assessment too!!!) I think it will work to help us challenge him and perhaps even help him find a friend his age more like himself, someone who can challenge him.
I just had to share, because I am so excited. We did, however, warn them that at the first sign of behavioural issues (akin to the school issues last 2 years) we will pull him without notice. They agreed without issues.
Please hold thumbs for us that this is it! (and so close to home too!)
