I’m sure my daughter won’t mind me saying she never enjoyed secondary school. Children can be mean. Jealous. Unkind. And – now it doesn’t stop at school does it?

But what about the lessons, the school environment, the homework – and quite frankly, the subjects they have to cover? One size doesn’t suit all and it certainly didn’t fit Evie.

Can I just give you one simple example with huge impact? How about science homework delivered via an app. A quiz every week which needed an 80% pass rate otherwise you get a detention. You read text you are meant to absorb. Then you answer questions by scrolling back up to find answers. Remember the spelling. Then go find the gap to type the answer. That doesn’t work for a dyslexic brain. At all. You don’t learn a thing. Your confidence isn’t boosted when you have to repeat homework several times to pass. And you still haven’t remembered anything.

Ok. So what about cyber bullying? It’s not ok and its really hurts. It was the final straw. It happened at home during May half term. A collection of school girls placed Evie in a group chat. They continuously bullied her for over an hour. Voice notes, awful texts, images, ‘playful gifs’. I’ll never unsee her handing me her phone before falling to the floor completely broken. I tried to comfort Evie whilst filming the chat from my phone – as yes, this ‘chat’ disappears… It was so bad that the police were involved. They were amazing and I’m so thankful to them. The school however – an Ofsted Outstanding school in Hampshire – was a different story. I sent them the footage and a frantic email. I needed to speak to someone because Evie was too scared to return to school. Their first response was: I’m sorry this happened online and was in half term so we won’t get involved.

Long story short – School became more interested after the police became involved. School were only interested in Evie going back to boost her attendance. They could move Evie to a room at lunchtime to make her safe – rather than moving the bullies.

Evie pleaded with me to keep her at home, she begged me to home school. I knew this was different, there was no going back. But I couldn’t home school? I naively thought that would mean me teaching her algebra and I do not remember how to do that! I felt sick and wanted a crystal ball to tell me what to do.

Luckily (if you can call it that) I had the most amazing therapist. This therapist helped me get over the death of my beautiful mum a few months before. My mum who loved my kids immeasurably – and who they loved back just as much.

I’d mentioned to him what had been going on and he gave me the best advice. You can do this. You need to not send her back to school. She’s told you she doesn’t feel safe. You need to listen to her. You would be brilliant at homeschooling and you need to do it.

So I did. And I will be forever grateful for my mini cheerleader. We all need one. We all need a voice that gives you permission to take a leap of faith and be brave.

I’m hoping my blog helps with this.

Laura x