“High functioning autism” and SEN schools

[jacksmannequin]

If a child who is average/slightly below average academically with a diagnosis of asc really struggles in mainstream school because of the social side of things, I’d they got an ehcp would they be in with a chance of getting into a sen school?

ds is 8, also now being referred for assessment of adhd, he can access the curriculum with 1:1 but is still in the process (long long process) of getting E widen E for an ehcp. Without any 1:1 he just trails off into his own little world and basically doesn’t do anything. He struggles socially, he only has 1 friend who imo is very manipulative and only plays with him when it’s suits him. Everyone else stays away from him basically, I worry about him socially especially when he starts secondary school. I think he’d be better off in a sen school sometimes, any experience?
thanks

If you already have an EP report then submit a parental request for an EHCNA now, before the report becomes too out of date.

A PP is entirely correct that an EP report isn't needed to submit an EHCNA, but by golly, does it make for a better quality EHCP if the assessment is able to consider previous cycles of assess-plan-do-review and examine what sort of provision/intervention has worked, and what hasn't.

I’ve got 3 years worth of reports from Autism outreach and the independent specialist teachers, and now the ep.
I told the senco the other day I’m aware I can apply myself and she said well they would come to us anyway ?!

You wouldn’t want yr child to go to our local ones, they r for the low academically able, and even those who fit the category struggle to get a place and end up in mainstream until a place becomes available.
Better to find a mainstream school for them that meets their needs.

If you request an EHCNA yourself the LA would contact the school, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply yourself to get the ball rolling with the EHCNA.

Op you need to scope out local schools and their reputation for stopping bullying. Unfortunately someone schools are very inept and won't be do anything.

I found the issue was if they are seen to cope with primary they are expected to cope with secondary. My child didn’t cope with secondary as expected. Ended up having a fight on my hands to get the education she deserved got there in the end though!

When starting my DC with additional needs at schools, I physically went round looking at a number of different school types in my area; from mainstream with TA's to complex disabilities.

What I found is that you very much get a sense of where your DC will best fit, from this type of visit.

The school I'd have liked my DC to have gone to was a mainstream with an autism unit. They only took 3 DC per class! It was amazing. I knew it would be beyond my DC though, as the DC there were having conversations and interacting with visitors, while my DC is non-verbal and doesn't appear to understand many things.

The school DC has gone to has 8 students per class, and is a special school for DC with autism, and is absolutely the right environment. I'd never have guessed that were it not for those visits.

From your description of your DC, mainstream with an autism unit would probably suit. This is because the DC do most of their learning in smaller groups, but at times join the wider community. This kind of school would also be set-up for external exams, which would make it easier for your DC to access, rather than in a school where external exams are not standard.

Not a chance in our authority. They are stuffing dc with incredibly complex and significant needs into mainstream school. dc who have no functional language, not aware of their bodily functions, dc who bite and head bang, dc who aren't able to have other people in their personal space, who don't take on any fluid or food throughout the day, etc etc.
I am told that our authority has a higher % of children with EHCPs in specialist provision than many other authorities, so I presume this isn't unusual.

Near me, there is a LA school for children with autism who have no additional learning difficulties. I’m not sure whether I’ve expressed that correctly, but the ability range is similar to non-special needs schools. From reading this thread I’m guessing they’re not available everywhere.

It does depend on your area. Some areas are better served than others. But my above average academically autistic child has just got a place in a school which caters for this kind of need. It’s possible! They are mainly independent SEN schools, almost all accessed by going to tribunal with private reports to show why a mainstream school would be inappropriate. Its frustrating because there are lots of children in this group but not many places. It’s a real slog and being honest not every parent has the resources - emotional or financial to get this.
Units - sometimes called additional resource provision or resource bases- are meant to be mini specialist schools within mainstream schools. Like all schools they vary hugely in how good they are.

My suggestion is to find parents locally with similar profile of child (usually Facebook groups are best for this) and ask them which schools they considered.

Best of luck!

Oh and yes do a parental request for EHCP if you feel the school are stalling without a timeline. Evidence is important and if there is a clear plan, it’s not unreasonable for SENcO to suggest waiting to gather that but a year should be more than enough time. Since you have a diagnosis and EP report you are already in a good position.

Most places for secondary SEN are decided early in year 5. So you need to count backward from that in terms of how much time you have.
Ideally you would be applying for an EHCP by start of year three at the latest to ensure there is time for (sometimes inevitable) appeals.

If your child is older than year three I would apply do a parental request asap.

As others have said it depends mainly on what is actually available in your area.

in a lot of ways ds would have been better with a specialist school for secondary but only one in a reasonable distance offered the option of a full range of GCSEs and that one was unsuitable for ds in other ways. Thankfully I found a smaller mainstream school with a fantastic SEN department and he is thriving there with a very detailed ehcp and a fantastic team around him.

it’s hard to figure what is best. Good luck

This is an old thread, but secondary placements for those with EHCPs are not finalised early in Y5. The amended EHCP naming the secondary placement must be issued by 15th Feb of Y6. In order to do that a phase transfer review should be held in the autumn term of Y6 (although occasionally held at the very end of the summer term of Y5).

Apologies. In our area it’s earlier and in year 5 and wrongly assumed this was the case everywhere. It’s due to the shortage of SEN places at secondary.

The law is the same whatever LA you live in, so your LA may think they have a local policy of doing things differently but the same law applies to them.

Hi @eloquent thanks for the info, would you ne able to share the name of the school with me, my son has a similar profile and we are still looking for a suitable secondary for him. Thanks!

Dear @Sirzy would you mind sharing with me even privatly which school is your son going to? Would be very helpful, thanks!