Halesworth/Holton Help

[Njata]

Unsure whether to put this on Education or here, so apologies if you feel it should not have been here.

We are moving to Halesworth in Suffolk (from way down south!!). I have a 4yr old and a 5 yr old, both autistic, eldest also physically disabled (erbs palsy). Youngest non-verbal (has echolalia) and personal care needs (wets and soils), eldest is mostly electivly mute! but can say a small selection of words if adequatly motivated! Mostly they just ignore you! Eldest can be agressive and has challenging behaviour, youngest not. Could go into much more detail, but I am sure you get the picture. - also tons of positive, they are brill kids, but it is their needs to bear in mind right now.

So my question - if you are still awake! I have been searching for schools in the Halesworth/Holton area, have spoken to some on the phone, have done internet research, but being 200 miles away it is not easy to check out! Does anyone live in the area and have a child in a good school? I need a good school where sn kids are treated well and supported brilliantly, where the rest of the kids are not cruel! They are at mainstream with suppport at the moment.

I am so sorry if this is a trivial or irrelevant matter to you, and quite understand if you choose to not reply, I know its a long shot that anyone lives round there anyway! Anyway, sorry to trouble. xx

[Fio2]

have you rang the LEA? I know when we were moving I rasng the council offices (main one) and asked for our LEAs number. Spoketo various people, and SEN section and they advised me of schools to go and look at and gave me a fair idea of which schools were good for certain needs etc. they were quite helpful. i got a named person from the LEA who came to see me as soon as I moved

hope this helps, it is a big thing though - i understand how you feel

[Davros]

Are you looking at m/s again or special? I don't live there or in Suffolk at all, although I love it there, but I have a friend who used to be a Councillor in that area and he has a son with autism. He moved back to London though but might have some info. More than happy to ask him, he is very helpful. Actually, I now remember that he had a Tribunal with Suffolk so prob knows a lot about schools.

[Njata]

ta fio2, didnt think of lea, only cos I phoned our present lea years ago for similar and they refused to recommend a school! Will see if these are any more forthcoming! (think they were worried about comeback if they recommended one and it didnt go well!)

Davros, I don't know. They are coping well at m/s now with their support but mld with autism base would have more specialist knowledge and understanding - we did want mld here, but they wouldnt fund - so ended up mainstream with 1:1 ????? probably more expensive but I think they thought they could dump them in mainstream and forget about them - they didnt realise they were dealing with the stubborn, loudmouthed, persistant bitchqueen from hell!!!! so it's cost them more in the long run with my list of demands! Sorry, I digress! ms or mld is not so important as good staff, good kids and good support and the boys learning. So I'm open to both.

[Jayzmummy]

Njata....good luck with the move honey. xx

[Davros]

Njata, I think Fio's suggestion of speaking to LEA is prob a good one, worth a try. I'll email my friend to see if he's got any advice and info. Your description of yourself sounds like you fit in perfectly to SN!