Help with finding a primary school

[suzylovesshoes]

my 6 yr old ds diagnosed with ASD in April. Permanently excluded from Primary School (has a SEN). My local authority has requested a place in unit at the Gardens Primary School in Mitcham, no schools in Sutton have spaces. Does anyone have any information about this school?

[TheNinjaGooseIsOnAMission]

hi suzy, are you a Sutton parent? If you are, parent partnership here are pretty good and worth getting in touch with if you haven't already. Have you looked into any other provision? I have no experience of this unit, but there will be others around that are worth looking at, there's also Eagle House in Merton and The Link on the Croydon border if you want asd specific schools depending on your ds' needs, apologies if you've already done this

[suzylovesshoes]

Thank you for your advice. I am in contact with Sutton Parent Partnership who are being very supportive. The psychologist from CAMHS feels that a base within a mainstream school would most suitable. I requested Foresters in Wallington but no spaces and declined because it was open planned. Rainbow in Green Wrythe full, Tree tops west wimbledon full, Riverside in Beckenham full. I have had DS assessed at Blossom House sw19 and they will take him and have been to see the Link and hopefully they will assess him this week (not sure how my chances are of getting these schools, especially without legal representation). I am going to see the Garden's base on Wednesday, school not very good on ofsted and know one's heard of it! keeping open minded and any suggestions would be great. Needs OT input as sensory problem and has recently discharged from SALT ok. Many thanks again for your help.

[auntevil]

Go with an open mind and lots of questions about how they will support your ds and his needs. I aways think that you get a 'vibe' when talking to staff/parents etc.
Of the schools that you mentioned, if you asked around, you would hear good and not so good stories from parents at each. Ofsted is only a very rough guide and cannot tell you if your child will settle and be happy there. Your instincts are key in this.

[TheNinjaGooseIsOnAMission]

agree with auntevil, not all schools with a poor ofsted are bad. But if you feel they cannot meet his needs then I'd be asking lots of awkward questions and be direct that you don't think they can, they are not under our lea and have no great alliance that a school in our lea would, hope that makes sense. It is possible to get a place at one of those schools without going to tribunal but you would need the base to say they can't meet his needs, leaving the asd specific school the only option. Have you considered Linden Bridge in Worcester Park, are there any bases elsewhere?

[suzylovesshoes]

Apparently Linden Bridge is very hard to get a place if out of borough, but will give them a call tomorrow to see. my local authority is in the process of changing statement, they have agreed to put OT in part 3 of statement. My DS needs OT but no SALT as S and L improved so much that he is now average with his peers. As is it not a new statement I do not get sent a proposed statement so I am a little concerned LA may leave this out as this is my argument when choosing a fee paying school over a LA school. I quite liked west wimbledon but had no spaces or OT. Any suggestions on other schools would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

[TheNinjaGooseIsOnAMission]

you'll still get an amended proposed statement so you will get a chance to negotiate, do get parent partnership to have a look at it for you when it arrives.