School recommendations please!

[kate2607]

Hello! I am new to this so please be patient with me. We have just (today) pulled my son out of school after years of bullying and torment at his very pushy, all boys private school in Surrey. His confidence is in tatters! He is 7 1/2 in year 3. He has recently been diagnosed with mild Aspergers and has some problems with attention. I am desperately trying to find a small, co-ed, nurturing school for next year that has staff who are switched on and imaginative when it comes to teaching. Area is Surrey - Guildford, Cobham, Dorking but willing to travel. I was hoping someone out there would have a suggestion (or two). Thanks.

[RoadArt]

Might be worth contacting the LEA to see where there are vacancies. You havent got much time left to sort to speak to the schools before the term ends.

[mummytime]

Where do you live? I would say do look at places like Holy Trinity Pewley Down in Guildford, which are used to Aspergers kids. Was he at a school starting with C btw? (nosyemotecon).

Good luck!

[kate2607]

I'm sorry, what is the LEA? We have decided he won't go back next term anyway. he is much better off at home until we find the right place.

[kate2607]

Yes mummytime he was at a school starting with a C! Not surprised that it has something of a reputation. The advice they gave us was to 'make him less different'. Took over a year to convince deranged XH to agree to him leaving.

[LIZS]

Surrey County Council is the LA. Their Education dept should keep track of schools with spaces and have an inclusion/sen officer who may be able to advise you. If you look at the SCC website they have pages for primary school admissions including the application booklet for all LA funded primary schools (procedure not relevant to in-year admissions but useful info) showing the names and addresses and capacity of each school. There is also a page outlining how to go about applying for a place mid year. Good luck.

[Rivvy]

Belmont school near Dorking?

It's linked to Moon Hall a dyslexic school. The schools work closely together so the school is used to working with children that need a bit more help etc.

I have heard good things about how 'different' children fit in.

[Fiddledee]

A friend had a similar situation she rang the consultants at the Good Schools Guide who didn't even charge her as their was an obvious choice for her son in her area. Belmonts sounds like a good idea have a friend with a DD there and its very nuturing definitely worth a look. Longacre in Shamley Green - too far?

Oh dear we are seriously considering the C school although DH prefers the L school even though C school nearby, ho hum...

[Fiddledee]

Barrow Hills too far I presume?

[Fiddledee]

Ripley Court?

[Rivvy]

If you're around that area Duke of Kent might be worth a look, don't know much about it though.

[kate2607]

Thanks Rivvy!

[Silverstreet]

Kate - I would look at state schools, as well as Belmont which I have also heard good things about. My experience is that the schools have a better idea of current spaces (and spaces that are coming up) than SCC so I would ring round the schools themselves. Then you can call SCC if you find one you like with a space. In the area you are talking about there are lots of really good state primary schools and most will have had experience of Aspergers, whereas the private schools often haven't. They are also used to educating children with a wider range of abilities.

[Fiddledee]

Thanks Kate DS very little but probably academic and sporty but a gentle soul, not as outgoing as his sister and probably needs a more nuturing place than C but C is so convenient and facilities so impressive.

Would think Belmonts would be the most obvious choice but give the Good Schools Guide people a ring too they are good.

[kate2607]

Fiddledee - my younger DS is staying on at C although that is not my choice. He is very outgoing however! Facilities are impressive but they count for very little at the end of the day - there are a couple of outstanding teachers but the ethos is incredibly competitive and if he's a 'gentle soul' I would seriously consider other options. It is going to take a very long time for us to build up older DS's confidence again and he's not the only one. They do talk a good game though....

[kate2607]

Thanks Silverstreet - I really worry about the larger class sizes at a state school though - particularly given his problems with attention???

[mummytime]

Belmont is good, but.... not so good for Aspergers kids. Or wasn't about 5 years ago, a neighbour's son ended up moving to a State school for a year or two, then on to private secondary. (Moon Hall is a dyslexic school which doesn't want to deal with ASD kids).
I would also look at the best State schools, as you can then get the LEA (Surrey CC) to do the assessments etc, before making a good choice on secondaries. Some schools do regularly feed into private secondaries, and even have private school teachers as parents.

I had hoped C had improved, I did use to say if it was the last school on earth my son wouldn't go there (he would have had the most awful time).

[captainpig]

Asperger specific school Unsted Park in Godalming?

[captainpig]

Oh sorry, just re-read, although Unsted Park is co-ed, when I viewed there were probably only 1 or 2 girls there.

[kate2607]

Any ideas on state schools then mummytime? To be honest I think C has got worse. When DS started 3 years ago it wasn't so bad but new head and head of Junior both very ambitious, younger DS came home with homework on day 1 of reception!!!!!!

[Jojocat]

I would look at Longacre or Burys Court (Leigh) for private options.

Also look at state schools. There are several very good state primaries not far from you.

[Silverstreet]

Kate. My DD had a boy in her class with Aspergers when she was at the Raleigh (West Horsley), and he had a special needs assistant who helped him enormously. He vastly improved over his time there and was well integrated in the class. I would agree your DS needs to be in a mixed school, this boys friends were mostly girls as they were much more understanding of his needs. Worth talking to them however I am pretty sure year 3 is a big year for them - but things often change. Regardless of whether they have room I think you should not be put off by class size in a good state primary, once he is statemented they will get additional funding for him for a special needs assistant for him, which it sounds like you were not getting privately. They will also have things like focus groups for social skills etc, which many private schools will not do. If you think it is worth considering, also think about starting the groundwork to get a statement now to speed this along.

[thegoatgirl]

Have a look at Longacre, it's a very nurturing school and has experience with Aspergers. Don't get me started on C school!

[Lonnie]

I have said it before on here but will again

Kingswood House in Epsom www.kingswoodhouse.org/

nurturing and able to deal with issues in childrens heavilly into getting the boys to move around and do lots of activities with them. fab school I wish all schools were like that

[DrSo]

We are just about to move to either Woking/Guildford or Winchester and are looking at prep schools in both these areas. We?ve booked to see Ripley Court as my sister?s children go there and love it ?loads of fun, sports for all and great results. Just read the earlier comment but it is def not closing as their new building project is underway. We were also going to visit Feltonfleet and Duke of Kent but maybe FF a bit too big for us. From the above will also research Longacre and Belmont ? thank you. Anyone know anything about prep schools Winchester way?