To wonder where the F!#k a bright child with SEN who's been "managed out" is supposed to go to school?!?

[WTAFisgoingon]

As far as I can tell there is a massive gap in provision for academically average or above average children who have SEN, for example:

• Local private schools (including the one we have just been "managed out" of) say DC's SEN (basically mild HFA with a tiny bit of other stuff) is something they cannot cope with so "it is in DC's best interests to look for a school with better SEN provision"

• Special Needs Schools say DC is too academically able (B grade student, roughly) and SEN is too mild for DC to need a Special Needs school and that "it is in DC's best interests to attend a mainstream school".

• Local state school and LA advise that DC's needs are not severe enough to qualify for an EHCP, so they cannot offer any real support. DC would be stuck in a class of 30 in a not very good school doing work a year easier than necessary without much support at all.....

Surely there must be many other kids in this position - too academically able or mildly affected to qualify for any sort of special provision, but too severely affected to be wanted in the private sector....... And all I keep hearing is that nobody wants to take DC because its in the child's best interests to find another type of school ........ Well, where is this magic school!? I can only assume that children like DC are expected to fail in their (possibly bad) local states until they are doing so badly that they do qualify for an EHCP!?! AIBU to feel this is the case and feel depressed and cross about it??

I'd probably get independent ed psych and OT assessments rather than the paed if I was expecting to go to Tribunal tbh. You need evidence of his educationalneeds rather than his health needs.

Fairuza but children in this situation don't manage in a school with no provision, do they! They struggle and fail and have their confidence eroded.... And the EHCP seems designed only to catch children who already have significant difficulties rather than prevent struggling ones from getting to that stage.

If the child is currently out of school the assessment can still take place though. Dd got her statement before she had set foot in an educational establishment. Her statement was based solely on how her needs would affect her in school rather than relying on observations of her in a classroom environment.

MrsOlly yes, it's hard.

Arabella thanks! We could relocate, so I'll look at those, thank you.

If you fancy relocating to the NW, St Annes College Grammar would be perfect for your DC! Next to the beach too.

Or the information advice and support service previously known as parent partnership

Niki I have heard really good things about State SEN provision, but all the good things are heard were for kids with an EHCP and from people saying that it varies massively from council to council and that it is a lottery, so you need to be one of the lucky ones.

Amazing you're doing Home Ed, I can't imagine how hard that must be for you.

Ifonlylove but presumably the LA can't swing our chances of getting admitted elsewhere unofficially? And without an EHCP we would only qualify on distance criteria?

So my HFA & SPD DD is in a good state school with a bloody lovely SENCO. They're pushing the able children as part of their plan to get outstanding which suits us as DD is an outstanding pupil.
Couldn't ask for more.
We're Contemplating applying for an EHCP in order to get the best school for her at secondary level. I am working on the basis that her needs are met by a school that supports her in mainstream. Our catchment school is good but wrong for her needs. If her needs are met she will excel. If not, she will underachieve. She'll be above average but she could be a poster girl for SEN in our area.

There are loads of independent schools which cater very well for children with a wide range of SN and SEN. Some are specialist independent schools and others just schools that take a wide range of children.

There will be too many preps to mention for all areas of the country but from 11+ the ones that spring to mind as definitely taking children of all abilities/needs:
Kingham Hill
Bloxham
Repton
Bruern Abbey
Broomwood Hall
Framlingham College

There is definitely a 'gap in the market' for academically able children with SEN.
We, too, home ed and find it is very common.

Bredon in Worcestershire. The Rochein south west London. Also, look at schools that claim to offer good dyslexia support - that often means that they can cope with mild HFA as well. Thinking of ones like Frewen and Appleford. Also Clayesmore in Dorset. Good luck

Cokethorpe near Oxford
Apple ford

Get in touch with IPSEA

They go to state school like most other children confused Shame if that's not good enough for your child but most of us seem to manage

Oh FFS thousands of parents up and down the county fight to get their child into a decent state school. If you're only in catchment for one, and it's shit (cos some are!) you think OP isn't allowed to want better for her kid?

have you applied for an EHCP?

lots of parents are told their DC would not get one but if you apply you may get there doesn't sound you have done it yet.

I've had the same problem op

We've now found an out of county state school that is tiny in comparison to her previous school where she was unsupported to the point of having a breakdown

It also has an ofsted requires improvement rating however from visiting with the school and meeting the senco, learning mentor, school nurse and attendance officer, i'm confident it's the right school for dd

Shitty situation, but don't give up hope. DD1 is diagnosed with ADHD (medicated school hours) and ASD and everything that comes along with it. She goes to the school that happens to be at the end of our road. She is academically average/above average, and the school seems very good at (mostly) meeting her needs. We live in Scotland, so don't have EHCP, but she has an IEP which is more for her social needs, and she attends a few groups each week in the SEN base.

I despair at the lack of provision.

I was in a similar position to you OP although my son has more severe issues and while he coped fine at mainstream Primary he did not cope at secondary level. I pulled him out towards the end of Y7. He is now in a special school but has mild learning difficulties. I still had to fight for that provision though as the LEA insisted he was "too academic" for a special school.

I accept that the academics won't be the same but also feel that if he gets the right additional support now then the academics are there for him in the future. A friend of mine had similar with her son who attended a special school and is now at age 25 doing a degree. He couldn't have started studying this at 18 but at 25 he is ready and able.

In your position being able to afford an independent there are more options although I totally agree that there is a huge gap in the system and our children are being failed.

Have you looked at the crappy catchment state school? Sometimes the schols with the terrible reputations locally are very good for kids with SN. I'd personally be wary of Ofsted outstanding when it comes to kids with SN (they'll be managing you out...)

I used to teach in a school that requires improvement. If I was given the choice between that and the outstanding school I'd previously worked in to send a hypothetical child to, I would choose the one that requires improvement every time as it was a nurturing environment that wasn't just about exam results. The SEN provision there was fabulous too. At the school I currently work at, the children get the support they need whether they have a Statement / EHCP or not.

Don't discount a school just based on the OFSTED rating it has received.

There are also some good non selective private schools around who often have a number of children with SEN and a strong interest and specialism in differentiated and wider teaching strategies, and are well worth checking out.