Please help me with my School Dilema ........Really long SORRY

[twocutedarlings]

Hi All,

We are going to apply for an statement assessment this term, Senco feels that we shouldnt have a problem aleast getting an assessment so fingers crossed.

My problem is that i am still unsure about the suitabilty of her current school, they have been great and really supportive. DD (5)seems to enjoy going most of the time. However they dont have much experiance of working with children on the spectrum (but they are willing to learn) but the school is massive (400 plus pupils). She is coping so far, but im worried that long term wise this may not be the school for her.

So what i was wondering is when/if the LEA do there assessement, do they also assess to suitabilty of the school. Or is there any other professional that can advice me on this?

There is another smaller school (170 pupils) which also has and Intergrated SN Unit. There is no question that the other school is the better (small class sizes, More experianced staff ect, ect), but its not local but its only a 10 minute drive away(but out of our catchment). The school she is at now is literally up the road from our house, and alot of the children in her class she has known since being 6 months old. But she hasnt made any solid friendships.

Im lucky i know that she is currently in a really careing school im just worried that long term wise, that because its such a big school it might not be the best choice.

My decision will also be made more difficult because DD2 will start school in sept 2009 (along way off i know) and i will need to apply for her school place before the end of sept 2008.

So i need to make my mind up sharpish, i obviously i want them at the same schools but i dont think that DD2 would get into the smaller school thankfully she has no SNs, but she would do if she had an older sibling already there when i submit her application IYKWIM.

[aquariusmum]

It depends I suppose on how well she is coping in the school - myself, and it's just a personal preference, no judgement implied -I would like my DS to stay in mainstream if at all possible, rather than going the unit route. My reasons are that if he can cope in mainstream, it's more likely that he'll start to model the behaviour of the mainstream kids. When he was at SEN school, he definitely started modelling the behaviour of SEN kids, which made him more manic. But, and it's a big but, if he can't cope in mainstream and they chuck him out (which is a possibility) I might have to think again. The unit nearest to me is awful, just awful, would be surprised if the kids in there come out knowing any more than they went in with, but maybe the unit near you is good. Go and visit, see whether you think the teacher is any good. I definitely wouldn't just trust to the LEA, as TBH they are very much biased as to what is the cheapest/easiest option for them. Good luck! If your DD is in mainstream without a 1-to-1, it sounds to me like she is coping pretty well (my DS has a permanent shadow)!

[twocutedarlings]

Hi Aquarius,

Sorry i dont think i made myself very clear.

She will be staying in mainstream, i have looked at this other school last september. There Unit was actually lovely nothing like i expected. All the children that are part of the unit are actually intergrated into the main school for 90% of the time. The unit (which is just a classroom) is used for the children with SEN for downtime extra.

She did have 1 to 1 80% of the time (school funded) But last week 8 new children started in her class, and one of them has found his start of school really difficult (un Dxd SN i think) so the TAs time with DD has been alot less. Shes still happy in herself but she is creating merry hell, for the staff as shes been quite disruptive, She painted her shoes today and put footprints all over the classroom.

[aquariusmum]

That unit sounds fantastic, wish the one near me was like that. Where are you - it sounds like the overall set-up in your area is just so much better than where I am! That incident with the shoes will probably help your case for a 1-to-1, but where I am must admit I would request statement myself rather than trust school/SENCO to do it. Mind you, February is not far off and an official diagnosis certainly helps. If your DH has BUPA through his work, you can get a private diagnosis paid for (though no further treatment). This makes things a lot quicker in getting a statement and I can give you name of good person if it comes to that.

[twocutedarlings]

We are in Sheffield Aquarius.

I think you might be getting me confused with another poster btw, My dd already has a Dx she has AS. The only reason we have not yet applied for a statement is because she only started school last september. So we needed to gather eveidence so that we didnt get refused at the first hurdle. She never had any problems in pre school so we thought that she might be ok without one. Obviously the higher staff levels there suited her, so im hopeing that this will go in our favour to.

TBH, if i'd known then what i know now i would have done things very differantly!!

[aquariusmum]

Sorry tcd, you are right I was getting two different people confused! I am in Surrey, where the schooling is really only good if you a Grade A student, whereas for SEN kids it's terrible. Round here, the idea of a school actually funding a 1-to-1 out of its own pockets is totally totally unlikely - if it isn't in the statement, you don't get it!! It sounds like you have a choice of two good options!

[twocutedarlings]

Your right i know im lucky the schools in my area are all pretty good but some better that others with SENs.

I dont think her current school would have given her any 1 to 1, had it not been an health and safety issue (she has a tendancy to wonder off).