You wait for a year, then two launches come at once!

After a year’s hard work, my book is finally here.  And Teach Us Too is ready to be launched as a charity.

Almost exactly a year ago, while my friends were cavorting in post SATs frivolity, I was sat at home starting my book.  Optimistically, I envisioned completing the book by the end of that summer term, writing stories my mother had told me about my early life in her voice, and writing my story in my voice.  By July I had made some progress with my parts, had attempted and failed to write in my mother’s more colloquial voice, but was nowhere near completion.  So, in the summer holidays, in between all the fun and no work on holiday, I continued my story… but it still wasn’t finished.

Into the September term with the start of secondary school, and more school work, more homework, but still snatches of time for my book.  In the meantime, Mummy had reluctantly agreed to write the introduction, which she was mostly doing in my van parked in the secondary school car park – doubling up my care, so I could go to school.  Just before Christmas I completed my story, or so I thought.  Until I got it back from the editors.  Again… and again… and again.

So here it is.

Do come along to the launch, at Waterstones Piccadilly, if you can.  Amazingly, Michael Morpurgo is coming all the way from Devon to read an extract from the book, so it is anticipated that tickets will fill up fast.  Tickets are available here.

If you can’t make the launch, you can buy my book online or pre-order my book here.

My prayer is that my book will challenge assumptions based on outward appearances; something I have continued to campaign about – that all children should be taught to read and write regardless of their label.  To further this, I am giving all my proceeds from my book to the charity Teach Us Too, which will be launched at the same event.

I hope to see you there!

On Saturday I went to FestABLE, the inaugural National Festival of Specialist Learning, and co-presented a session on Teach Us Too.  Meeting with others trying to raise the standards in special schools in a collaborative way is so important to affect change for those in special education.

Throughout the day I met professionals and parents putting the educational needs of the child first, but the person I enjoyed meeting the most was in a wheelchair and had just completed a philosophy degree.  Inspired by my message, he endorsed my desire for all children to be taught to read and write regardless of their label.  So I left the festival with renewed strength for the task ahead and new hope for the future.