Child with ASD - Honeywell, Belleville, Ravenstone, Beatrix Potter, Allfarthing or Swaffield? Post Reply

[CristianaLaurence]

Really hope I can ask your views. My son has been diagnosed with ASD, high functioning, struggles with social cues and regulation. We're looking for a school with a great SENCO, SEN provision and a general understanding and culture throughout the school that not all kids are neurotypical and celebrate their talents and differences.

My son has given us a wish list:
1. Calm spaces that are actually calm!
2. More monkey bars, climbing frames, things to push against (he's a sensory seeker)
3. More art
4. More fun lessons
5. Kind teachers 

Parents with kids at Honeywell, Belleville, Ravenstone, Beatrix Potter, Allfarthing or Swaffield - please can I ask your opinion. So grateful.


 

[mumofNDchildren]

Stay away from Belleville then !!!

I have been a parent there for many years, Belleville will send your child into sensory overload, there is no quiet space at all, despite the OAP clearly stating there should be calm and safe space for those children.

They are also not great on sensory circuit etc. Our OT report was duly filed, and we got movement breaks and theraband for a while but then that's it. I have been told that Honeywell has sensory circuits at the start of the day, before the first lessons starts.

the Art teacher is wonderful but works part time for a massive school, the children don't even get continuous weekly lessons throughout the year, there is always a gap, same for ICT, it's throughout the year, with gaps. In exchange the children will get 2 maths x lessons or 2x English lessons in one single morning, that's what the school pushes.

5) you would get as the school has a lot of kind, inspiring, enthusiastic teachers, teaching assistant, admin staff and supporting staff

but the school is also full to the point of bursting (chaotic, noisy), and everything is drive/organised to serve traditional academics. Meeting the (basics) needs you are describing isn't the chosen target.

I have been impressed by Ravenstone and have heard very good things about swaffield.

[CristianaLaurence]

I am massively grateful that you took the time to come back to me. We got this feeling about Belleville when we visited, although the smaller meteor site felt calmer. A huge thankyou, we’re really struggling to know what to do next so personal comments like yours really really help.

[asdquery]

I moved my child with sensory issues from Honeywell several years ago. We loved the school, but it's big and the size and noise, especially at break time, was just overwhelming for my child. Other autistic children, whose challenges are different, may well flourish there, but all things being equal I would opt for a smaller school if possible.

[CristianaLaurence]

Thankyou so much, this is so helpful. Can I ask which school you moved to? Perhaps DM if private. Huge thankyou.

[Muddlemoo]

I wouldn't go to Honeywell either.  In fact most mainstreams are so chaotic for kids with ASD.  Have you considered an ASD unit within a mainstream school - eg Hilary House at Sacred Heart.  Amazing system where kids learn with other ASD children in the morning then go into mainstream in the afternoon.  They get the right specialist input and then get to socialise in the afternoon

[CristianaLaurence]

Thanks so much. Yes we’ve looked at ravenstone, Smallwood and will look at Swaffield. We’ve been told it’s unlikely he’d reach the threshold for the base but perhaps even the mainstream part would benefit from the learnings. I’ll check out sacred heart thankyou!

[CristianaLaurence]

Thanks so much. Yes we’ve looked at ravenstone, Smallwood and will look at Swaffield. We’ve been told it’s unlikely he’d reach the threshold for the base but perhaps even the mainstream part would benefit from the learnings. I’ll check out sacred heart thankyou!

[Earlsfield Mom]

Hello - my son is very similar.  We were very badly let down by Beatrix Potter I'm afraid so I definitely wouldn't recommend it.  They have little understand of ASD and we were told that our sons struggles were simply not a priority for them. he wasn't sleeping, struggling with anxiety and becoming violent at school - aged 5!! I was also told by a visiting NHS OT that I needed to move him asap, that there were far better schools in Wandsworth to choose from.  I applied for an EHCP using a parent application as they were too busy to do it, I got him a full time 1:1 and moved him to another school. He is now surpassing all expectations academically and socially. He is very happy in himself, growing in independence and needing less support each term. The difference an inclusive school with invested, kind, progressive teachers makes to a child life is unimaginable.  Floreat has everything on your sons list - I would recommend a visit and a chat with the head to see if it might be the right fit for you. 

I looked around a good bit and would recommend Floreat but also Ravenstone and Smallwood too. 

The best of luck x




 

[CristianaLaurence]

Thanks so much and so sorry you had that experience. So pleased you have found a great school in Floreat. We will check it out and Smallwood and Ravenstone too. Big thankyou x

[Red5]

Definitely not Beatrix Potter, reading the last post makes me sad, it seems like they haven't changed at all in ten years. Exclusions from activities were the norm here, it was such a painful journey as my other child had a wonderful time there...but of course they had no sen needs at all.
Smallwood or Ravenstone are fabulous inclusive spaces, there's a culture of everyone can join in, you'll need an EHCP for the base, we got into Smallwood and were blown away at the difference. Mainstream isn't at full quota, maybe because it's a huge school and folks opt for the popular Earlsfield or BP, that said it's a very calm school, has a gigantic playing field, they have a dedicated OT room, calm areas. Many of the staff have all worked in the base but also go into mainstream so have a good understanding of Sen.

[Greg5]

Agree not BP. Shockingly bad school for SEN and otherwise. Our son suffered considerably but once we moved him he flourished! Apologies but we went private post BP so can’t help beyond that,

[CristianaLaurence]

Thanks so much Red 5, we visited smallwood and I must say it was wonderful. I’m so sad to hear about BP. Smallwood seemed so inclusive with an amazing SENCO. Seeing Swaffield and Alderbrook next week too?

[CristianaLaurence]

Greg5, I’m so sorry to hear this and so pleased your son is now flourishing. I’ve been shocked by how many ofsted reports fail to report on SEN.

[Asdmum01]

Stay away from Honeywell. It's not the school it used to be, for all kids but even more so for SEN kids. It's awful now. My friend has her ASD daughter in Ravenstone and speaks very highly of them. Seems like the best school in the area these days