Advice needed rearding moving schools

[Fifis25StottieCakes]

hi, i posted in education but have just read i am better off posting here as its busier..

My daughter is on school action and is in yr 3. Her end of KS1 assessment was maths 1 science 1 reading W. The school have refused for 2 years to put her on the list for the ed phyc or move her to SA+. Theres is a 2 year wait to see the school phyc even if i did manage to get her name on the list. She absolutely hates school and is starting to realise she has a problem. She has been on Level 2 readers since yr1 and made no progress although she has made some progress in writing and maths.

I am now looking in to maybe paying for a private ed phy and have had a meeting with a head teacher from another school. The school she is in is good with outstanding features. The other school was in measures and is now graded satisfactory with good features. This school has better success with SN children and i am toying with the idea of moving schools. The headteacher at the other school was lovely and gave me more information in 30min than her current school have in 4 years.

I am having a meeting next week with the head teacher, senco and banardos.

I am just wondering if anyone has changed school and if they have made the right choice.

Thanks

[Ben10WasTheSpawnNowWeLoveLego]

I think that quite a few parents on here have changed schools and I'm sure that they will be along soon.

It definitely sounds as if it would be a good thing for you to do. The school are clearly not supporting your DD adequately :(

[Ineedalife]

We have recently moved Dd3[9] she was mid yr 3 and seriously unhappy.

However I was concerned that she did have a couple of friends and I thought it would be a problem for her to leave them.

It was absolutely the best thing we could have done.
She is so much happier and better supported. The new school learned more about her in 1 term than the other school had in 3.5 yrs and this has helped us to finally get a dx of ASD.

Her needs were never met at the old school and my concerns were never taken seriously.

My advice would be to go with your gut instinct, ofsted's arent everything and if you get a good feeling about another school then go for it.

Good luck.

[Fifis25StottieCakes]

Ineedalife, thanks for replying

The reason i am worried about the other school is bacause its the catchment area school for the worst council estate in the area. I actually lived on that estate and went to the other school. Its a pretty rough school compared to the one she is in now which is in the catchment for a private estate. I am concered that it may be quiet a shock to the system for her. The other school had improved drastically in the past 18 months with a change of head and the new one was lovely.

On the other hand my gut is saying move her as she is getting absolutely no where in her current school. I get the distinct impression that it is very hard to get on there should you have special needs. I was really shocked yesterday as there is a boy in my eldest daughters class and he has not been statemented and he has real problems in school.

[Tiggles]

I moved my DS from a school that was rated as good by ofsted, as it just didn't get my son (I didn't know at the time that he had autism, and they thought he was just fine ). It was the best decision I ever made. DS fits in so much better at his new school. I looked around a couple, one of which the head said "if he has anxiety problems don't send him here, he needs to go to a caring school" which was a bit but at least I knew where we stood! The school I chose the head was immediately on DSs level - found out he was into history so telling him all the history of the school, pointing out the history books in the library etc. told me not to worry about his anxiety as they had lots of experience with autism. I would go with your gut feeling.

[keepingupwiththejoneses]

To be honest from my experienceofsted results mean nothing when it comes to SEN. Ofstead don't inspect orrecord those childrens progress, they will do as of this year but that won't cover all schools for about 5 years yet. Make sure you have a list of questions you need to ask and tel the school all about your child so they are aware of her needs. I would also say to beware of head teachers that say 'she will be fine here we know all about SEN' with out asking you about her individual needs.

[SOTIRIA]

it's such a hard decision to make. Do you think it is possible to do a taster day at the proposed new school to get a better feel? Two of my friends have moved their SN children to new schools and they are both pleased. It's impossible to know how your DD would react. In my professional opinion, the progress and levels that you mention should automatically require EP assessment and SA+

[Fifis25StottieCakes]

Its not the ofstead reports that are worrying me about the other school more the reputation it has.

KS2 reports are far worse at the other school but SN kids do much better on their assessments so this sounds like the place to help her. The other school has double the number of SN kids with a higher percentage being statemented or on SA+.

The other school have told me to go ahead with the meeting at the school with banardos and see what happens. If i am still not happy to ring up and she will arrange a visit with DD and discretely have her senco have a look at her which is a great idea.

She finished her medical tests yesterday and everything has been checked. Theses reports are going back to the child and family unit.

Apparently there is an 18 mnth+ wait to see LEA phyc. If the school had of put her on the list as i requested 2 years ago she would have been seen Even if i fight the school to get her put on the list she has a long wait. It looks like i will have to see a private ed phyc as the other school suggested to get things moving.

Has anyone had a bad experience moving schools. Its seems like it worked out fine for everyone