Directory of provisions and options for autism ?

[Toppy]

Me again - I thought I was going to be on here a lot and I was right !

I was lucky enough to visit my local special school/nursery for autistic children this morning. I was told the school was less suitable for higher functioning children as they would not find the peers to mix with socially. I think DS (3) might be higher functioning but really just don't know or have the experience to judge. Had very high hopes that we might have something perfect right on our doorstep and now I am just not sure. Feel totally thrown off balance

The school told me I need to look at all the options - MS with TA, special unit attached to MS, mixed special schools etc for Statementing
Is there anywhere that lists all the provisions for children with autism. I am interested in what is in my borough (less of a fight) but also wish to look further afield.
How do you find out about what is out there ? Also does anyone tell you what sort of provision is right for your child (I guess that is what a Statement is for ?)

[PolarEyes]

hi

the NAS has a list of schools you can search
www.autism.org.uk/directory.aspx

the stat assessment is supposed to determine the provision your child needs, however it is not unheard of for it to be arse about face. e.g. shoehorning into existing provision.

[silverfrog]

when you start statementing you get sent a bundle including lists of all schools in oyur authority - mainstream, special, state, maintained, private etc.

althoguh I have found these ot be incomplete so always worth doign extra research

the NAs signposts secton is reasonably good.

I always turn up a couple of options by googling {authority] autism schol/sn school/autism provision/ABA school etc

in the prviate SN school world, for ASD related education there are:
Priory Schools
Eagle HOuse schools
Cambian Education (I think - the name is coming to mind for some reason!)
also, try serching Oaasis (I think, hang on will google)... yes this is them

I also trawled around Sn exhibitions - you get a lot of schools exhibiting there, and again, a lot links to follow up...

[SantasMooningArse]

We didn't get sent that bundle- but it may be different in Wales. They try as hard as they can here to hide the ASD secondary unit as it is something like 20 times over subscribed.

TBH I think the best thing to do is ask about- get opinions of aprents etc; shared information is so useful. I changed my mind about where to send ds3 at teh eleventh hour (day before getting it named) as another parent told me a horrid tale about something that happened there and have enver regretted it for a second.

IME ds3 (HFA but with additionals iykwim- low functional ability) has blossomed beyond expectation in a unit attached to a MS school. But it depends on who leads the school.

[silverfrog]

could be because it is Wales, Santa.

we have had it form 2 different authorities - a list of (supposedly) all schools within the county.

But conspicuous by their absence each time were ABA schools , so Iknew the list wasn't complete anyway.

I have definitely found more "useful ( for us) schools by googling and word of mouth.

they never make it easy, do they?!

[pinkorkid]

Two other sites to try are Gabbitas good schools guide and the Ofsted site which you can search by area and by school type.

Happy hunting.