Can anyone chat to me about living in Newcastle with DC with SEN?

[Rainallnight]

Bit specific but the SEN boards are a bit quiet so thought I’d try here.

We’re thinking of moving to Newcastle, looking at Jesmond, Gosforth, Tynemouth, Cullercoats.

We adopted our DC. DD, 8, has been referred for an ASD assessment by school. DS is 6 and hasn’t been yet but I wouldn’t be surprised if he was the same.

I’m guess I’m looking for general impressions of schools with kids with SEN in the areas I’ve mentioned above, as well as any specific recommendations.

I can come back later and say a bit more about what isn’t working for us in London.

Bumping this for anyone in this niche

Don't have any NE info but I do have a dd with ASD (very mild). One thing I think she wouldn't cope well with is moving! We are in London too. What's not working for you here?

@singularsensation Thanks for replying. I totally see where you’re coming from and that’s also a concern here. DP’s mum is in the North East and is getting very elderly and frail so that’s one thing making us consider the move.

In terms of what’s not working for us in London, though…The DC’s school has a very mixed intake. That’s great in many ways and is the sort of diversity you get in London schools. But our experience this year is that (a) DD’s needs are being overlooked in favour of higher need kids - she fell through the cracks quite badly earlier this year and it’s taken a lot of work and advocacy on our part to get things back on track. And to be honest, she’s still not getting all the support we’d like for her (b) DD is susceptible to copying the behaviour of the more complex/tricky kids when she’s feeling anxious and overwhelmed.

Moving schools in London could be an option but that in itself would be an upheaval for her. And all of the schools where we live, while good, have similar challenges.

The other thing is that DD does better with access to beaches, etc

And for various reasons, we’re a bit worried about local neighbourhood influences as the DC get into their teens.

So while a move would be disruptive? We think ripping the band aid off now, in the hope of a more settled future, might work out.

Does that all make sense?

(Also, are you going to see A Chorus Line as your name suggests? 😀)