Communication and Interaction Resource Base at St Andrew's primary, Chinnor - experience?

[MeAndMySpoon]

Sorry for the extremely cumbersome title!

Does anyone have any experiences/knowedge about the ASD Resource Base which is hosted at St Andrews Primary School, Chinnor, South Oxfordshire?

I'm really struggling to find any other specialist ASD provision within our area (South Oxfordshire) and although we're booked on a visit there in a couple of weeks, I'd really appreciate any insight or experiences of this base, please.

[FutureMum]

Hi, I have visited as I want my dd to go there next yr. seemed really good and efficient and the staff had the right attitude.

[MeAndMySpoon]

Thanks, FutureMum. How old is your DD?

Were you given any indication about how oversubscribed the unit is/what the chances were of your DD getting a place?

[FutureMum]

Hi, she's 4. Unit is very small, two classes I think no more than 10 or 12 from memory. To be admitted she would need a statement that names that school and then to pass the school's own admission panel. I think what they offer is what dd needs so will push for it.

[kyz1981]

I am also hoping my Son will go there it has a good reputation for children that have complex sensory needs as well as ASD.

I have named the school in statement but not sure what the process is now. I know they start looking at Sep 15 admissions for SEN around now.

When I visited they had a couple of spaces for 15 admission, there are also a few units in Bucks that may be worth looking at also.

[FutureMum]

LOL, Kyz1981, I think we met there, did you have a lovely DD on a sling? I guess if she doesn't make it into that school we may have to move again but I hope not. It's not ideal because it's a big distance for us, and the Bucks units would be even further away.

[ibeadam]

Hello MeAndMySpoon, FutureMum and kyz1981!

I know this thread is rather old, and wish I had seen it earlier.

Our sons goes the the CIRB unit "The Base" at St. Andrews and I would have loved to help if I could.

How did it go? Did you all find the perfect place for your children?

[kyz1981]

Hi ibeadam and Futuremum, my son started at the base on Thursday and so far seems to be happy to go so fingers crossed it all works out, it was the best school for him or the only one without having to fight to get him in to an indie SS like Meath.

Yes that was me Futuremum - hope your DD has started to settle in her new school.

Putting DS in a taxi for the first time tomorrow, fingers crossed the LA have sorted it all out, but the thought of this leaves me feeling more anxious than him starting at the base.

[ibeadam]

Hi kyz1981.

So glad to hear things are going well. My wife takes our son but often chats to the cabbies - they seem like a caring bunch.

Our son (Huw) has talked about three new starters (two in the older class, one in his). If you hear about a "Kerri" that's my wife, who helps out on a Tuesday.

Our son was being (illegally IMHO) excluded from his previous school. He was a lonely, misunderstood, stressed little boy. Since going to the base he has made an amazing transformation - he even has his first ever friend!

Best wishes.

[kyz1981]

Hi - I think your little boy is lovely, he helped my little boy on his settling days, I think I have met your wife too : -) my DS is in the same class. he is the youngest by far being reception age.

My son had a nightmare at nursery, and no where else would take him, it was so hard to find the right setting as the bases in my county (bucks) would have destroyed him and he would have ended up in the local SS school which would not be suitable.

I will be picking him up so will probably see you wife often but I have a dd who attends my local school so have to drop her off.

He went in the taxi quite well this morning so fingers crossed all will be well.

we will see at pick up time and tomorrow when he has to go in to the taxi again.

[wackydacky]

Hello. Does anyone have any views on the mainstream school there? Just moving into the area and it seems good. We would like our DS to go to grammar (will be living in Bucks) so wondered if it would be academic enough for that (albeit with a small amount of tutoring which everyone seems to do now!)? Also what are parents like - would love to meet new friends!

[AnyaLoa]

Hi, did your child end up going there and if yes, were they happy there? Did they make good progress and did they enjoy going to school and were they able to make friends there?
We're thinking of sending our little girl there - she would be going to reception. I don;t think mainstream primary would be the right place for her at the moment but as she goes to the mainstream nursery and copes well there - with 1:1 support the entire time she's there- I would really like her to have a chance to continue to have access to mainstream education and spend time with neaurotypical children as well rather than go to a special school. Most special schools that would be appropriate for her have mostly boys - the ratio is often as high as 9:1! I know this is also the case in the Chinnor Resource base but at least if she went there, she would still have a chance to play with, hopefully connect, with the girls in the mainstream class.
I would be really grateful for your views on the school.

[kyz1981]

My son was there until year 3. It was not the right setting for him at all as he could not cope with mainstream and struggled with out a more structured approach. The pressure for him to attend mainstream caused him significant distress.

In the time he was there, there was several changes of staff which did not help him to feel secure.

The children who were able to attend mainstream coped well and it was a good mix for them.

My Son now attends Heathermount Special school and is absolutely thriving.

[AnyaLoa]

kyz1981 thank you for your reply. I'm sorry to hear your son had a tough time adjusting to the base but I'm happy to hear he's thriving now. Heathermount school looks lovely - unfortunately it's much too far for us.

We're hoping our daughter will be OK in the base- it's still our first choice compared to the other schools we have seen so far. She's happy in her mainstream nursery and luckily does not seem to struggle with transitions much so we're hoping it will help her settle in the base. Fingers crossed. Thank you for telling me about your experience :)