More House School Farnham

[Expatmomma]

Was hoping to get some feel for the school (prior to first visit) from current parents.

Any thoughts / comments welcome.

[Expatmomma]

Update: visited the school and was blown away with what they can offer my son. Returning for a taster after Easter and hoping he is offered a place.

[Ninatam65]

My son has been at More House since Year 5 (he's now in Year 10) and we have always happy with what they're doing for him. He was told in year 4 in a mainstream school that he would never get any exams but he's on course to take 7 GCSEs/BTECs. Can't recommend it more highly.

[NCISaddict]

My DS will be leaving More House this year, he has been there since he was 11 (is nearly 18 now) and I can't recommend it enough. It has been brilliant for him and he has been very happy there. Am a tiny bit scared at the prospect of doing without their help and support.

[Expatmomma]

Sorry only retuning here now. Thanks so much for the positive feedback.

DS competed his taster and We were offered a place and have very gladly accepted it!!

He will board from September and be in year 6 so a big change for us all but a positive one.

Knowing he is leaving his current school in a few weeks has already helped him and lifted his spirits.

Now just need to buy the uniform and begin sewing on countless name tags.

Can't wait to see the progress he will make there.

[NCISaddict]

Fantastic news, I'm sure he will be very happy there. It is a wonderful place with a calming effect and any problems that happen, and they do, are sorted quickly.

Their sports day is one to attend, bbq and punch for the parents, a very civilised afternoon.

[Expatmomma]

So reassuring to hear such positive feedback from current parents.

I wish you son all the best for the next stage in his life
NCIS.

Who knows Nina our paths may cross later in the year.

[Puffdragon123]

How did your son settle at More House Expatmoma?

[Njos]

Hi,

How good is the provision for Dyspraxia and sensory processing needs any idea?

Tx
NJos

[Duckanddrake]

Hope you don't mind me jumping in? I'd really like to know some inside info on this school - my DS is very profoundly dyslexic and has an EHCP. (He's y8) no independent reading/writing skills but cognitively able. Is it worth me viewing?

[mactavish]

We are also going to join More House school later this year and we are so happy about it. I've researched the school in a number of areas and received overwhelmingly positive feedback. The admissions process was a good example of their expertise and conscientiousness for us.

I would phone them and discuss your son, the first thing they will do is ask for all the reports you may have on him (from school, ed psych, medical, speech and language, OT, etc.) and read those to assess whether he might be suitable before taking things further.

[Expatmomma]

Had forgotten about this thread so not checked for a very long time.

DS is extremely happy and thriving.

The pastoral care and support is outstanding.

He has changed beyond recognition since joining the school. He is finally meeting his full potential after very difficult years at his previous school.

[liAa8O9z30pijgg]

I have looked around Moor house and though it seemed everything we have been hoping for. Our DS has language processing difficulties, high functioning ASD, dyspraxia, moderate learning difficulties and Tourettes, luckily only body movements and grunting.
He has sensory issues. He can only learn in small groups that are calm. I've sent paperwork to the school and are really hoping they feel they could support him. Wondering how long it will take them to let us know. We are in Sussex. But will move for the right school. Waiting to hear if Sussex panel will allow a special school for him. We want him to have a peer group that all have some learning difficulties. He's 8 and is really feeling isolated from his peer group in his mainstream school. Any advice from anyone would be great. Thanks

[ForPetesSakeNotAgain]

I love MHS. My son is in Year 9 (he joined in Year 7) and it has been wonderful for him. His confidence has grown and somehow they have worked magic on him so that he is willing to write (he previously would submit a couple of sentences and then give up).

My only concern is that you say your son can only work in small groups that are calm. My son says that his classes are sometimes rather noisy as a number of the boys have ADHD and tend call out in class or when they are supposed to be working. I asked him how he coped with the distraction and he said it was fine - he finds it easier to concentrate in a room with noise than in a quiet one (I find that hard to imagine). A friend told me that the younger age groups are particularly lively!

That aside, my son looked like he grew 3" in his first week at MHS. I loved watching my newly confident lad walk across the car park - he looked so different from when he was at his previous school.

[liAa8O9z30pijgg]

Thanks for your reply. We loved the school, I'm Dyslexic and what I would have given to go to a school like that.
Our DS now has 29 in his class and struggles with that level of noise & distraction. He spend a few mornings in a class of only 5.
How many do they have in a class at More house?. We were concerned when the head said that "we take intelligent boys at More house" at the open day. I know we all like to think our boys are, but our DS isn't at all academically intelligent as yet. He is very focused on his computer but not a lot else yet!. He's always asking questions but his authority processing causes him difficulties. What type of boys fit the profile?. Has your DS got friends with different learning challenges?.
Love to hear more. Thanks

[liAa8O9z30pijgg]

Just realized I am talking about More house school and not Moor house. Its very confusing. Which is your ds at?.

[Puffdragon123]

Wondering if you have an update liaa89....
Did your son end up going to More House School? If so how is he going, he has a similar profile to my son so would be interested to see if he is happy at the school. Thanks

[tarantinotpf]

HI All
I'm reading through the views in this thread with interest. I have been recommended to More House Frensham via my sister. My son is 8 with dyspraxia and an EHCP with 25 hours SNA support, OT and SALT. His current primary is not appropriate and he is not progressing. At the beginning of this year he was 2 academic years behind and that gap is growing. Do More House only take boys who are academically able to access the curriculum? Reading instructions and following info on the blackboard would not be feasible for my son. I am hoping they could help close this gap with the right curriculum i.e. not the national curriculum.

Thanks for any insights.

[Puffdragon123]

Is he also Dyslexic, I don't know it personally but know their main criteria is to be dyslexic. Whats SNA support?

[tarantinotpf]

Hi - no he hasn't been diagnosed as Dyslexic. SNA is a Special Needs Assistant - so his 1:1 support.

[OTWBsmum]

Hi tarantinotpf, my DS has started at More House this term (year 7). He is on the autism spectrum and had the same number of 1:1 hours on his EHCP as your DS.

One of the school's many strengths is that each pupil has an individual timetable, tailored to his particular needs, so don't worry about the blackboard stuff.

The school is very rigorous in its admissions process. First of all, you send in any relevant reports (EP, OT, SALT, EHCP etc) you have on your child. They read them and, if they feel the school is a good fit for him, you are then invited for a chat with the headmaster (without your DS) and a tour of the school. If, after this meeting, both you and the school think they can meet his needs, your DS would be invited for a taster day.

Hope this helps 😃!

[Boostie]

If the school feels your child would be suitable, they have been known to support parents through the appeal process as well.

[Muminthejungle]

My son is in similar situation. He has EHCP for Dyslexia, ASD, S&L etc and started mainstream secondary school this September. It’s not going well at all, he’s ultra anxious and we need to get him out of there ASAP.
I’m curious about your mention regarding number of hours of OT, SL etc support. Did you get this written on EHCP from specific reports? Which council are you in?

[tarantinotpf]

Hi
So he has 25 hours of SNA support on his EHCP. He is in junior school though and I believe the approach is different in senior school - they are more likely to 1 special assistant to a few children.

[imjustataxidriver]

Hi, I am also considering More House School for my 9 year old but haven't been to visit yet. If I'm honest I am so worried about how he will cope, I can't even imagine how he will find his way around the school. How did everyone elses sons settle in? Does anyone board?

[dadmt]

My son is at MH. He joined year 4 & is now in year 8.

At the time the headmaster was Barry Hugget & the current head (Jonathan Hetherington – Mr Hetherington) was the deputy head. At our meeting with the headmaster he said there were two rules for admittance. 1. Can we help your child. 2. Will your child disturb the balance of the class/year they are joining (note that per a previous contributor each child is individually timetabled). That was worrying to hear as my son, as with all children at MH is different from the “standard” child & has special requirements. But this is why the school exists & the rule on whether the child will disturb the balance of the class must be wide because he got in. Moreover, once your son is there you hear of other children & realise that they cater for a wide range of special needs. They also don’t take “stupid” children. ie they won’t help if the problem is a lack of ability. But my son’s no Einstein, so I wouldn’t worry overly about that. At the headmaster’s interview when we described our son he pointed to rows of files (each child had a file) on the wall behind us & said we would find similar descriptions in a lot of those files.

When my son went he did not have an ECP (previously Statement of Special Needs) because the assessment of his primary head teacher was that he did not need one (I won’t go into that. It still rankles). We applied when he was at MH. We did it ourselves using the council resources. But in my view the clinching piece of information was the write up provided by MH. At no point did anyone challenge his ECP. So if you think your son should have an ECP you’ve got a better chance when you are already at MH.

My son has been diagnosed with ADHC, dyslexia & dyspraxia, though we are not sure about the dyspraxia.

Boys do board, but only from year 6. If you are considering boarding due to distance. You might consider moving. I have met a lot of parents who’ve moved so their son can attend the school. One from Cornwall another from Singapore (extreme example). L:ots of boys also get the train, eg from London.

Taratinotpf & Muminthejungle, I would say go & meet the head & see the school. It is a remarkable school & if they believe they can help your child will flourish. My son had very few friends at his last school. He has a lot at MH & goes to lots of birthday parties.

Don’t worry about your son finding his way round the school. New boys are assigned an existing pupil to help them navigate.

Also if you do go each year ha a mother who is a year group rep. They usually organise meet-ups in the holidays so your son will be able to meet some children in his year before you go. Were you to start in a new term, though plenty of boys start midway through a term as my son did.

Here is an example which may help. My son did not like going to his last school & would not, under any circumstances, do any of the very limited homework he was given. When he went for his trial day he came out & said “Mummy, when can I start”. Fortunately the teacher bring him out nodded at his mother. He started 3 days later. When he had been there a couple of months he came home & said he wanted to do his homework. A miracle. I don’t know how they do it but they do perform miracles.

This may seem a little over the top but if your child goes you’ll understand and, I’m sure, agree.