Small independent school with good SEN provision - any recommendations pls? Post Reply

[honeygranola]

Hello there, my son is in Year 3 and is having some challenges at his local relatively large and busy school. We have been told there are indications of ASD but are still in the assessment process and dont have a diagnosis as yet. Amongst other actions we are taking, we are also considering whether his current school environment is just not a good fit for him and he would be suited to smaller, calmer setting with strong pastoral/SEN care. Grateful for any recommendations in this regard please, we are around Clapham Common / Clapham Junction. 
 

[2009Kat]

Please be careful here. Many independent primaries are not inclusive and don’t provide the support that children can receive in a state primary because they are not legally required to do anything beyond the Equality Act (discrimination) provisions (ie they are not required to comply with the SEN rules in the other legislation) and they don’t have the resources in their budgets for extra for SEN kids.

Y3 is a tricky time as the KS2 curriculum ramps up which can expose the SEN to a greater extent than in KS1.

Of course this all depends on what your child needs and if it is just is a smaller environment that may work obvs. I know of other children who have moved state schools and been happier. If I were you, I would consult an educational psychologist for advice on what your child needs (they usually advise on the type of school as well).

Saying that, Finton House and The Roche are known to be the most inclusive of SEN.

Feel free to pm if you want to discuss.

[_commonsmum_]

SEN is tricky. ASD even more so. We have a y6 at a specialist school, which was a fight through the council, but it’s not specifically for ASD (only speech and language challenges). However, if you have the cash to fund yourself, it’s definitely worth having a look at some of these schools or possibly starting ehcp route. Unfortunately most private schools will generally turn you away but it’s worth asking.

I would look to small schools with more nurturing and inclusive environments- parkgate house, dolphin school (maybe)?, possibly Roche and wandsworth prep. If you’re willing to travel a bit further, hornsby house have a team of learning specialists and 80+ children in a buzzy school of typical learners- however at y3 they may be selective and may refuse. I just toured their facilities this week for my y3, who is also at a very busy school, but moving closer to home.

Also, if you’re willing to go the ehcp route, I would highly highly recommend getting an amazing advocate/lawyer (Fiona Slomovic is my biggest recommendation) and starting the process now.

Hugs to you- there is no easy path through, but you will find the right school and it will work out for you both.

[BalhamMum12345]

Our DS had some learning difficulties (not ASD), and moving him from his OFSTED outstanding but very large state school to a very small independent school (Dolphin School near Clapham Junction) was the best thing we did. Unlike in the large state school where access to the SENCo was difficult, our DS (and all of us as a family) got as much time as needed with Dolphin's SENCo. It took time to find solutions (and we did involve an external educational psychologist for a full diagnosis), but the school wasn't just supportive but invested. I can't say that they know how to deal with ASD, but given their general approach to everything I would speak to them and be very open about your situation. Even if you're having to deal with an educational psychologist outside of school a small, calm, child-focused envronment such as that of a small independent school can only be a bonus. Good luck!

[honeygranola]

Thank you all so much for your responses. Incredibly helpful and insightful and hope it’s ok to follow up with some of you privately around some of the comments you have made. Thanks again and any further comments gratefully received.

[Happy to help]

Bruern Abbey near Bicester - weekly boarding Mon-Friday - bus from Hans Place at 7 on Monday and back at 6pm on Friday - did wonders for my severely dyslexic, dyspraxic son, and they have started a senior school to take them up to GSCE - great ethos - head master is a wonder and has rightly won best head many times with the Tatler school guide

[Happymummy2014]

If it helps, we had a fantastic experience at Finton House. It’s incredibly inclusive (children in each class with additional needs or EHCPs) and has an amazing SEN team with in-house occupational therapy, speech and language etc. Our children (one with additional needs and one without) both thrived there and we were so sad to leave when we moved away.
I wish you the best of luck choosing a school to suit your child.