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Original poster

Good schools for dyslexic children - south west (within 2 hours of London)

42 replies

changer22 · 09/09/2009 20:14

DS (7) is really struggling and we are looking at specialist schools for dyslexic children within reach of Heathrow airport (for DH's work).

We are willing to move from the south east to find cheaper housing to fund the school fees (and because we like the area!).

We've read about Calder House. Their aim is to return children to mainstream education within a couple of years which appeals as we would like DS to return to regular schooling.

Does anyone have any knowledge or experience of the school or any other suggestions?

Thanks.

OP posts:
bourboncreme · 13/08/2010 14:38

Slindon College,Newlands,Moyles Court,Stanbridge Earl,Bethany,More House or Frewen College...my son has a frind at Frewen and they are very pleased with it.

KidsCanSucceed · 04/08/2010 12:02

Have a look at Millfield School. It has exceptional specialist support in a mainstream setting.

KidsCanSucceed · 04/08/2010 12:01

Have a look at Millfield School. It has exceptional specialist support in a mainstream setting.

KidsCanSucceed · 04/08/2010 12:00

You might want to consider Millfield School in Somerset which is 2 hours from London.
There is a prep school and senior school and both have exceptionally good support for dyslexia within a mainstream setting
www.millfieldprep.com

mummytime · 02/08/2010 08:16

Why not move close to a dyslexia action centre and pay for extra coaching instead? Egham is v. close to Heathrow. I'd certainly phone them for advice anyway, they do send their tutors into various private schools to do 1 to 1. (Eton is one of my favourite schools with a specialist Dyslexia unit).

LetsEscape · 31/07/2010 19:43

Fairley House in Westminster

fionajcollins · 21/07/2010 20:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

tethersend · 17/09/2009 22:45

There are a few in SW London, so within easy reach of Heathrow; I have heard good things about the Moat school, but only on the grapevine, rather than anything official IYKWIM.

A few schools listed here

floaty · 17/09/2009 22:29

My ds2 who is 12 is at a specialist dyslexia prep in Suffolk ,but it only takes weekly boarders.It is the most fantastic place,very child cantred and focused.They aim to return children to mainstream and most do,some others go onto other specialist seniors

Others I know of are Bruern Abbey in oxfordshire,The unicorn in Abingdon,Northese manor and Frewen College which is in surrey.My understanding is that Appleford also takes behavioural difficulties.The Good Schools guide is useful also try the Crested site for a list of specialist dyslexia schools and units

maverick · 10/09/2009 08:44

Wouldn't it be cheaper, quicker and more effective to look for specialist, evidence-based tuition?

I suggest Oxford's Reading Centre, as they would sort your son's problems out very quickly.
www.ourrighttoread.com/

Specialist dyslexia schools don't necessarily provide the best evidence-based literacy teaching methods. Some I've examined provide very 'quirky' methods to remediate reading.

Original poster
changer22 · 09/09/2009 21:26

The fees are 'from' £5,027 a term for day pupils!

OP posts:
Elk · 09/09/2009 20:43

I don't know much about it. It is quite close to me and the children there play sports matches against my dd's school. It takes children 7-14 and some board. I think it has had a new headteacher recently. I don't think the fees are too bad.

Original poster
changer22 · 09/09/2009 20:39

Do you know anything about Appleford Elk?

OP posts:
Elk · 09/09/2009 20:37

Appleford School is in Shrewton, a small village in wiltshire. It is about 1.5 hours from Heathrow.

BethNoire · 09/09/2009 20:35

Hmm, the one I mentioned used to be significantly cheaper- around £7.5k? (I think I only mean last ear or so, friend was considering using). Must be another similarly priced somewhere surely?

Original poster
changer22 · 09/09/2009 20:23

Thanks for your reply. It's such a big decision not least because of the money (the couple I've looked at tend to be around 12k a year) but we would be moving our other children too. It just seems such a waste of DS's childhood though to be struggling academically and now socially too.

OP posts:
BethNoire · 09/09/2009 20:18

The only one I know is Edington and Shapwick, which is apaprently 2 hours and 43 minutes away (LOL) so too far.

however, what I can offer is the knowledge that people I know who have used a specialist dyslexia school almost always rave about ti and rarely regret the decision. HTH