Mumsnet Talk

We want to move ds (Y8) from his current school as he is making no progress, is stressed and unhappy and is not having his SEN dealt with.

There is no other choice of school locally locally and so we have decided to move to an area with a school he could attend that might actually help him.

His SEN are dysgraphia/dyslexia and many aspergers-type traits (though this has not had a dx so far).

I had loads of fantastic suggestiions here on this thread
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/1656630-Do-your-dcs-attend-a-happy-and-decent-mixed-comp-Can-you-buy-a-4-bed-house-for-300-000-within-walking-distance
but unfortunately the schools I have called so far are generally oversubscribed.

Can anyone please recommend a school for us
(have also posted in SEN topic)

Queen Elizabeth's Grammar, Ashbourne (a comp despite the name)

Try this one (really must stop recommending it, or it'll stop being undersubscribed and my DD won't get a place!). Friend's autistic child is happy there, as is my stressball son after we moved him from a school where he too was being bullied.

Can't quite find the house you requested but this one at £325k is deffo walking distance.

Have Pmed you

Bournside school in Cheltenham?

Bury St Edmunds County Upper?

Ofsted outstanding, way above average GCSE results and many people say its pastoral care is its best feature. I know many children with all types of SEN, statemented and not, who attend and thrive.

www.countyupper.suffolk.sch.uk/Welcome.htm

Either of the two Kendal comprehensives could suit your son. Kirkbie Kendal or Queen Katherine. Lovely market town, and your budget should be do-able for a 4 bed detatched.

I have heard that the Friends School in Saffron Walden is excellent for children with SEN. Apparently, they offer bursaries if they feel that the child will really benefit from the school.

Argh, just lost the long message to you all - bloody internet tonight!

Anyway, brifely this time in case I lose it again ... this is brilliant, thank you ! I will ring each school suggested tomorrow and ask to speak with SENCO and Admissions person. Hopefully someone will oblige and have a space for ds .

Anyone else?

Gosforth junior high will almost certainly have spaces in Y8. They're good for SEN.

Susie I PMd you on your other thread, the school DS is at is over subscribed each year for Y7 admissions, but they frequently squeeze extras in - particularly if they have SEN - diagnosed or not.

DS has flourished since he started there. The SEN block is always staffed and open to all students whether they have SEN or not - whether they want a chat, support, a cuppa, just feel lonely / vulnerable or want to access a computer.

Hethersett high school Norwich has a specialist dyslexic unit that has won awards.

It is generally undersubscribed. My son moved there last year in yr 9, mid term move.

I pmd you before and have done so again. But do you really mean anywhere or do you mean England / Home Counties?

NB Lots of space - undersubscribed!

Rose, yes anywhere! Our business is internet-based so we are mobile - I havent yet come across anywehre I would outright refuse to move to!

Just rechecked my spreadsheet Rose - yes your school looks amazing, Wow! We are holidaying in that part of the UK at Easter. Cant wait.

You do realise you'll have to come back & tell us where so we can be nosy help you house hunt!

It almost feels like there should be a prize with everyone competing over areas & your spread sheet!

You do realise you'll have to come back & tell us where so we can be nosy help you house hunt!

It almost feels like there should be a prize with everyone competing over areas & your spread sheet!

Have you considered a special school.

I have no idea how good / bad the school is but I know it specialises in ASD. The old school only had about 60 pupils but they are relocating it to a site shared with a local comp.

https://www.wolverhampton-engage.net/sites/anonymous/BSF/Pages/TettenhallWoodSpecialSchool.aspx

If holidaying here, PM me for a tour!

DD hasn't started there yet, but everything I have seen and heard suggests that this school is very good with children with SEN particularly dyslexia/dyspraxia types.

I have two friends, one's son is very severely dyspraxic (to the extent that he was considering a special school) - he has done fantastically well there, in all top sets, she says the key thing is that everything is about what you CAN do, not what you can't. Ditto another friend's dd who is severely dyslexic, again she has just got a string of A* at GCSE.

I am hoping fingers crossed that dd will also be very happy there

I would also strongly recommend this area for quality of life

Oodsigma, I ill send a virtual bouquet to who ever makes the best suggestion!!

Stil ploughing through the list - trying to find a school suitable for ds PLUS schools for dds , none of which can be oversubscribed is proving to be challenging. We were going to visit one of the areas we liked this wekeend but sodding snow has put a stop to that! Was looking forward to a nice weekend away.

Thanks so much for all suggestions and pms. You are all fab - dh is very impressed with the power of Mumsnet

Any more suggestions?

Takver, I have friends from Merthyr and they both claim it rains alot there. How is it further North where you suggested? It looks lovely.