I wrote an anonymous SLT blog last year about my experiences working internationally. Apologies to those readers who were familiar with my previous one but I’m going to share a few of the posts on here too as it’s part of my ‘story’.
My First Royal Family (first published 03.02.19)
Summer 2011
The email came in late on a Friday from a lady called Sarah. Sarah was a Horse Trainer and her boss was owned a significant number of famous race horses. Sarah explained that the family had concerns regarding their 7 year old’s English language skills and wanted an urgent assessment before returning to the GCC. I was asked to send over a copy of my passport and 2 utility bills with my name and address on so that I could be vetted by the embassy.
48 hours later and I’m driving through a long country lane in surrey and following my satnav to the family’s UK “palace”. I pull up outside the main gates and I am greeted by two security guards who were expecting me and my car. I am asked to leave my vehicle and am swiftly patted down whilst the security dogs are let loose in the car to do whatever job they’re trained to (I decide not to ask questions!). I get the all clear and I am asked to follow the pickup truck up to the main house; as we drive I realise there’s a truck directly behind me following me up.
The drive up to the main house felt more like entering a mix between Centre Parc and Alton Towers – there were house-sized colourful play houses; giant jenga; child-sized 4x4s; a train track and train and tons of animals including Deer and Gazelles!
We pull up outside the main house and I park up and grab my assessment bags before I am led into the house and into a gorgeous living space filled with tables of posh chocolates and fresh flowers. There’s a child sat waiting for me to assess them and there’s a lady next to him. I don’t notice the bodyguard and so as I walk towards the lady I assume is the child’s mother I put my hand out to shake her hand and greet her. The bodyguard comes from nowhere and gently ushers me to the adjacent sofa (I believe my feet left the floor briefly!) to sit down.
The child’s first language is English and they attend a British International school in the GCC and so I choose the CELF 4 as an informal assessment. We complete the assessment over the next 70 minutes and I chance a “high 5” at the end under the watchful eye of Mr Bodyguard. As I leave the room I thank the mother for her time and wish her well before she extends her hand and shakes mine.
Once back at the office I score up the child’s assessment and write the report that night before sending off to Sarah to forward to the family. The child has some mild auditory memory difficulties and inconsistencies with some concepts and so I put a school-led SLT programme together with the accompanying resources.
After a quick google a week later I realise why security was so tight as the child is the grandchild of the ruler and the mother is the princess. My first royal family and I hadn’t even curtsied ??.