I can't home educate ds can I?

[Youagain2025]

I think i already know the answer to this but want to confirm I guess.

Im so worried about DS going to secondary school. Im trying for a SEN school but what if he doesn't get in. He wont cope mentally or emotionally in a mainstream. Hes working at year 1 level has an ehcp and autism.

There's a part of me thinking about home education. But since I have learning difficulties myself. Im not sure i would be a suitable person to do that. And im thinking im likely to ruin his education. But I also don't want him emotionally and mentally damaged at a large mainstream school.

Im also worried I may isolate him.

I cant afford things like private tutors etc.

It's unlikely he won't get a place in a SEN setting. This could be a separate school or a unit within a mainstream school. I advise you to have a meeting with his current headteacher to outline your concerns and ask about the facilities secondary schools in the area have for children with SEN.

I would keep pushing for a school that meets his needs OP. In your shoes I wouldn’t home educate, it really isn’t an easy option it is tough and it does require quite a bit of thought to ensure nothing is missed out, getting out & about so that there is no social impact etc. I wouldn’t do it myself personally unless I had absolutely no other choice.

Well, you might not be able to teach him yourself, but you might be able to facilitate him being educated at home.

Even if you didn't have learning disabilities, being able to teach something is different to knowing it. Does he get DLA? Are you able to spare any of that for funding online lessons? There's a really great website called £2hub for lessons. He can also be in the class that works for him rather than that is the 'correct' age for him. It's a bit of a faff at first but really good. They do videos you can watch at anytime or there are online lessons but limited spaces for those

Outschool is great but more expensive and is mostly American, so the timings aren't always great (unless he is better in the evenings) and the curriculum can be a bit different.

https://the2poundtuitionhub.com/

https://outschool.com

There are also some really great comprehensive online secondary schools but they are not in our budget unfortunately.

It sadly always seems to be a battle, but please do keep on pushing for him to get a special school that suits his needs. I agree with your instinct that you'd not be best placed to homeschool him and it would take away the responsibility of the authorities for attending to his needs. He doesn't sound like a borderline case if he's y1 level so they have to find him an appropriate school even if they have to pay for private school fees if there's nothing available in their system. It won't be easy because things are so stretched and they'll want you to go away and sort it out yourself and not make a fuss, but that's not what you're here for. Advocate for your DC and get him somewhere so he can be educated appropriately and not cut off at home and falling behind. Good luck with it.

Most schools are telling me they cant reach his needs that's off record though they haven't seen his EHCP i just say hes working at year 1clevel and they say he cant reach his needs .

There's one school that has a unit . Thats not a hope in hell i will put him in that school.

Another mainstream say they can meet his needs but I just dont believe they can and I dont think he would cope.

As much as ds loves his mainstream primary and the school have been fantastic for him. I feek like they dont get it regarding secondary I have tried to talk to them a few times but they keep telling me im worrying to much over thinking etc. So I don't get anywhere.

When I go and look at the sen school do I only put that school down and if he doesn't get in do I just deal with it then.

Contact your local SENDIAS for help with this.

Is he in year 5 or year 6 now?

I don't know. I mean he doesn't really write for himself . Well a tiny bit maybe. But at school he tells his TA what he wants to write TA writes it and ds copy's it. And he may not understand whats being said /asked .

Is he bright ,can he learn ? What will his difficulties be ? Sometimes it's just timing and having more kids in a year like him so he has friends.

I think if you can research and get resources home schooling is a possibility.

Yeah 5. I forgot about SENDIAS

Have you tried posting (and reading around relevant threads) in here? https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/special_educational_needs If not, it's worth doing as they have a lot of useful knowledge from dealing with these things all the time.

Can he type

I just dine a self reffeal to SENDIAS there's also some drop ins . So im going to do that to

No he doesnt know what letters are needed.

SENDIAS have a drop in session next week. But its in the same day that I have a viewing at a school.

The school viewing starts at 9.30 im going to have to take both my ds because I wont make school drop of plus get to the school viewing in time. Making the assumption that the school viewing would finish around 10.30am ish . I could then possibly make it to the SENDIAS drop in for around 11. But im not its such a good idea to talk about him infront of him.

For the school viewing / senidass day do you have a friend or neighbour who could drop the kids to school for you? Or is there a breakfast club or something which you could use even if you pay for it?

I don’t think that you can home educate if his needs mean that he is working at year 1 level in year 5. He needs specific targeted support from an experienced teacher.

To get a special school place you need it listed on his ehcp. Get senidass to explain the process to you, and ask if there is someone who can support you through it.

Some schools run nurture classes that may be suitable.

i used to teach in a mainstream school which had a number of students similar to your child and we ran a separate timetable for them. It wasn’t a full on separate unit.

good luck in finding a place for your son

Can you email them?

I would say don’t panic. You’re considering this with plenty of time. It’s great that you’re so on the ball.

I’m always going on about joining local facebook SEND parenting groups and ask for advice on schools on there. Look at specialist schools but also look for schools with ARP.

No there's no one to ask . And for the breakfast club I wouldn't make it time wise with morning traffic plus everything is in opposite directions ds would also get to stressed with the traveling plus a school visit on top.

Wish I was on the ball. Im not sure if i can email. I think i may be able to get things across better face to face . I will look though.

Why don't you give it a go?

You've got a year or so before secondary. Between now and then spend 45 minutes a night working on his reading and writing skills and see what progress you make.

If he doesn't improve/refuses to do it/you don't have the time or skills to make it work then you've got your answer

I don’t think this is great advice for a ND child. I think it’s too much work and asking him to sit and work for a sold 45 mins is probably not a realistic expectation.

If he has an EHCP, schools will be consulted by the SEN team to see if they can meet need and offer him a place. You won’t apply through the usual admissions process. If he’s yr 5 he should have had a phase transfer annual review to discuss schools for yr 7 by now. SENDIASS will be able to offer advice but chase his EHC caseworker for a meeting

I disagree. I think you’re doing better than lots of parents of SEN children.

Maybe you can email SENDIAS and tell them due to your LD you would prefer a face to face appointment and can they give you one.