Published on 12, July, 2020
What is your opinion about the best kind of education for an Aspie child? Home schooling? Montessori? Steiner? Luck of the draw? We're in Denmark currently but moving back to the UK soon and I have no idea what to do with him. I've heard a lot of horror stories from friends.
Our son is 8. He struggles even in the Danish style of education which is significantly more individualised to each child than most UK state schools we've been in/our kids have been in. It feels like he could learn to hate education soon. Yet if he's interested in a subject (and his dyspraxia doesn't make it too difficult for him) then his level of focus and wonderful mind shine through.
Hi
My son is currently 15.
He returned from Denmark last year.
we found that the Danish system was not great at coping with high functioning children with Autistic needs.
For the past year I have been home tutoring him here in the North East.
There was no nice fit for him in the UK system.
I am looking for a post 16 option for him now.
Depending on how able the child is, British private education is normally excellent - but expensive (around £20k/year). Remember, this is 'after tax' money you're paying so in reality, it's costing you around 40k of your earnings - you need to be able to keep up that level of expenditure because you don't want to let him down half way through and then throw him to the sharks in the local comp.
The benefits of private are small class sizes (around 12-14), excellent teachers, excellent facilities, excellent sports and after-school clubs - and the high cost acts as a filter to the more disruptive elements that cause stress to the child.
There are normally entrance exams but bright aspies will breeze them.
A lot of the better private schools are direct feeders to Oxford & Cambridge.
Montessori has no structure so it's hard for the child to get with the rhythm - similarly with Steiner. - auties often need strong structure to reduce the chaos of the school environment.
Typically, UK state schools are hugely variable so you would need to examine the schools locally to where you will be living.
Most importantly, you need to find where he fits the best.
If you have the time and skills, home schooling can work very well - but it could cost you one of your salaries to be at home all the time with him.