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Urgent advice on secondary education

Nikki

Hi everyone

My son has Aspergers and a very high IQ, but poor processing speeds and executive function skills. He has what they call a 'spiky profile'. He has other comorbodities like dyspraxia and anxiety.  He has an EHCP which we need to contest as it is useless. He currently attends mainstream primary.. 

Now the EP stated that he will benefit from 2 years at an independent specialist school with small classroom size and then he could move to a small independent secondary from year 9. 

I will not be able to pay for independent specialist schools as they cost over 40k pa. I am worried that if I contest the LA for specialist placement and lose then my son will be stuck with the school the council offers which may not be ideal. Also I will have to move to an expensive borough for the school. Son is due to go to year 7 in September and has been offered a grammar school place by the current LA. But I know he will struggle as no 121 support has been provided through EHCP.

I am now looking for small independent schools in Suffolk which can accommodate special needs like ASD and provide OT and SALT. Has anyone got experience of sending their children to small independent secondary schools? How have the children fared ?  

I am really stressed out about the decision making process, finding the right school and finding the right solicitors to fight the case and get the results ( I feel worried when they tell me it costs 7k to 10k) I have just a few months before September arrives!

Anyone with experience of secondary education with academically capable kids, please can you share your experince.

Many thanks in advance!

 

  • in reply to Nikki

    We're in NW London near the M25 - you'll find private schools are all along the lines as above - you really need to go and *feel* what the schools are like near you.      Our daughter went to co-ed infants, girls junior and secondary - she immediately clicked with the one she went to for secondary - and the teachers worked very hard to help her succeed.         She left there at 16 to go to a boy's school for co-ed sixth form - 40 girls and 800 boys.   Smiley

    Feel free to pm me - but be aware, the pm system is busted so once the message window is filled, I can't see any further posts - keep it really brief!  Smiley

  • in reply to Plastic

    Plastic, thanks so much for sharing your experience. It's wonderful that your daughter has been able to get a degree.  Would you be able to share the name of the school through private chat. I perfectly understand if you are diffident to do so due to privacy concerns.

    Thanks again.

  • Hi - A lot depends on how able your son is to fit in with other kids - if he can keep up, he should be fine but if he's going to struggle, it might not be the right place.

    Have you considered home schooling and then getting him into Scouts (or similar) for the social side?

    My daughter went to private schools all the way through - she changed schools at 11 because a lot of her friends were leaving for other schools so we went around with her getting the feel of the other schools and the the atmosphere there.       Some are pot-boilers, some are Stepford Wife generators, some are more focussed on the child.      Class sizes were around 12.      Cost per year ranges around 17k for day students, 35k+ for boarding.

    She graduated last year with 1st Hons in Philosophy.

  • Hi Nikki,

    You may like to contact our Autism Education Helpline team who can provide you with information and advice.

    www.autism.org.uk/.../education-advice-line

    You can call them on 0808 800 4102,  leave a message for call back, or use the online form

    All the best,