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Thought on Reddam House Berkshire

8 replies

TheonlywayisSurrey · 12/01/2018 22:29

New to Mumsnet and in despair. I am looking for a primary school school for my creative and sporty DC with dyslexia, ADHD and dyscalculia. Reddam House seem to be the advice of many. I understand Bearwood used to be a gentle, inclusive school. Is it the same under the new management? Do they take in and support children with additional needs? It seems they are more academically geared. Is it not incompatible or a true case of added value to a mixed ability cohort? Any help appreciated. I also posted under SEN. Thanks!

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Polista · 13/01/2018 20:46

V sorry to hear you are in despair, OP. I have heard that Reddam do take children with ADHD and support them well. School was recommended to me as a senior option for dyslexic DC too tho I haven't looked into it.
Or you could try Holme Grange - I know they support dysleixia and dyscalculia but don't know 're ADHD. PM me if you like?

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Lowdoorinthewal1 · 13/01/2018 21:08

I have heard that Shiplake and Claire's Court are both inclusive.

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TheonlywayisSurrey · 13/01/2018 22:58

Thank you so much, Polista and Lowdoorinthewal1. I will look up Holme Grange, Shiplake and Claire's Court too. Very grateful for your help. DC's little heart is set on Reddam, though. At Reddam House I really liked what I saw on the school tour, but there has been a change in management about two years ago, so not sure it is still inclusive. Seems more result oriented, which is not bad in my view. I am looking for a nurturing, inclusive school that will go all the way through - no 11+ stress, please - whilst exploring DC's potential to the max. I don't want a school that will take DC without the proper level of support. I want it to guide/push my child to the best he/she could be. ADHD, I am finding, makes a handful of schools squirmish. One a heads of SEN flinched at the mention of DC's ADHD. I just wanted to sit down and cry - then shout at her for not seeing my child beyond the ADHD label. Frustrating.

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Polista · 14/01/2018 07:27

I am certain DC from my DCs' old junior school, who have ADHD, were given places at Reddam and heard on grapevine that both kids and parents happy with support and teaching. I'm sure you know already but if you look schools up on Good Schools Guide, there is a list/tick box page where you can see exactly which SEN a school says it can support.? X

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Polista · 14/01/2018 07:33

And i agree wirh you 100% - i didnt want schools which would take my money and claim wrongly that they could support DC - we all want our DC with SEN both supported and stretched. I think the idea of a school at which DC can stay from.junior to senior, without the stress of 11+, pretest or CE, is very sensible and wish I had been as clear thinking as the OP on that!

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Lowdoorinthewal1 · 14/01/2018 08:52

My concern with Reddam would be that they would take your money but not offer the support because they needs bums on seats.

They seem to have had such a rocky ride getting established- controversies around the staff they appointed etc. At one point they were offering huge discounts just to get some kids in.

Whatever they like to think, they are never going to be an academic school because they are slap bang in the middle of the broad intake grammars in Slough and super-selectives in Reading. There is Holyport bust making a name for itself and then much more established schools like Wellington and Bradfield to compete with. All these schools will peel off potential pupils.

I'd be a little wary of it though, because its still not really bedded down.

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TheonlywayisSurrey · 15/01/2018 22:06

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Much appreciated. DC had a taster day at Reddam. Unfortunately they were not able to provide the right amount of support DC needs. I like what I saw there, though. Children looked happy, especially senior school ones. Even though they were not able to offer a place for DC, they did offer to help us think of a suitable school and made some great suggestions. I felt very touched by the way they handled the whole thing. DC was still crushed to know there would be no offer. Tricky business explaining rejection - even when it is done in the nicest of ways, if that is possible - to a primary school aged child. I suppose the quest continues. Holme Grange, Luckley, LVS and Brigidine have been suggested. Any thoughts? Any information helpful. Thank you so much for all the input so far!

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Jaffjaff · 05/03/2018 16:33

Holme grange has a huge learning support department and is all inclusive. Luckley is just a senior school. Brigidine is on the verge of closure with all sorts of internal problems and LVS seems to be on the up and up with new Head, so might now be more selective.
Hope that helps.

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