Alternatives to mainstream school

[ac73]

Hello all,

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of moving their child to a more therapeutic setting such as Beech Lodge? Our eldest is not coping in mainstream but neither do we think that our local special school is appropriate. Any thoughts or experiences to share? Thank you!

It would depend on a few factors - such as how old he/she is and what problems they have with mainstream school and what is their current level of achievement and what is their real potential?

Based on my experience, it is better to help (ie do whatever is necessary) a child cope with normal life, normal school, so the opposite of what you are considering, because the earlier they can stand on their own two feet and cope the better they will find life in general. An adulthood of not coping is pretty bleak. But if there are certain kinds of learning difficulty then that might not be possible so it just depends.

There are a variety of settings which would fall within mainstream school, also.

Finding the right school environment is so hard isnt it. My son has been through special education and at 14 is in mainstream secondary. Its a very small school ( for a mainstream secondary) but its approach is very caring, nurturing and inclusive. I agonised for a long time and when I finally visited burst into tears at the end because I knew I'd found the right place, contrary to advice I'd been given.
What I took from this experience is finding the right school is a more art than science. Visit schools, keep an open mind, don't think about whether its called special, mainstream, academy, alternative, free school or whatever. Just does it meet my child's needs, is the head saying what I want to hear, do the children look happy. I do think our school system places enormous pressures on our young people and sometimes mainstream just isnt the right place.
I don't know this particular school, but do know others like it and adoptive children have done well. If it feels right for your child, go for it.