Specialist school Versus Mainstream

Hi Everyone

My son is currently going through the ASD diagnosis and is finding it a bit difficult to focus in mainstream school, he is only 5 years old and currently have no issues with learning as such but finds it hard to use what he has learnt in a functional way.

I have been asked to look at specialist schools for him and have started visiting them but we do not feel that this is the right environment for him and we would like for him to stay in mainstream school with the right level of support. 

Is anyone else facing this tough decision at the moment, I would really like to hear from parents who have faced the same challenge

Thank you

Parents
  • I had issues in Primary school, with bullying and really struggled with school work. My primary school wanted me to get out of the mainstream into a specialist school. Thankfully I stayed in the mainstream, largely because my mum really kicked off about it saying the school weren't addressing the bullying and i did manage to achieve good GCSE results despite my primary school writing me off saying i'd fail to pass a GCSE, I even scored a C grade in English/Maths :D 

    Personally speaking, I'm relieved I didn't go to a specialist school and stayed in the mainstream, I felt the education I left with was better than what I'd of got in a specialist school. In mainstream school, I got awarded additional support from a teaching assistant for 3 1/2 hours a week who helped me in some of my lessons :)

  • Thank you for sharing your experience 

    It really helps to understand real life situations, it does feel as though school has opted for the easier option to move my son to a specialist school but we as his parents feel that the academic side is not the same although they do mention that the same syllabus is taught.

    We will focus our energy on trying to keep him in mainstream with the right support but at present they do not even have an ASD trained staff to help him but I have been told this is being addressed.

    On a more positive note I will say that they are trying to help and I understand that due to various constants it's not easy but as a parent these things mean nothing I just want what is best for my child

    In this day and age you have to become a pushy to get anything 

Reply
  • Thank you for sharing your experience 

    It really helps to understand real life situations, it does feel as though school has opted for the easier option to move my son to a specialist school but we as his parents feel that the academic side is not the same although they do mention that the same syllabus is taught.

    We will focus our energy on trying to keep him in mainstream with the right support but at present they do not even have an ASD trained staff to help him but I have been told this is being addressed.

    On a more positive note I will say that they are trying to help and I understand that due to various constants it's not easy but as a parent these things mean nothing I just want what is best for my child

    In this day and age you have to become a pushy to get anything 

Children