Is this a bit odd?

[youknowyourself]

We are currently looking around special provision schools for my step DD who has Down syndrome.
We have come across one school that ticks most of the boxes. It is a SEND school but all the children with Down syndrome are in a separate class. As in, it's a class of 10 students all with Down syndrome. I have been told that my DD will be in that class (so mixed year groups and key stages.)
I work in education and have never come across anything like this. I asked about it they gave me a woolly answer about it meeting all their needs at once (I'm not sure how- the needs were so diverse and varying from non verbal and in nappies to some completeing KS3 maths and prepping for GCSEs for example)
I also asked about other classes and none of the other classes are "sorted" via disablity (so mixed ASD. ADHD, behavioural, phyisical etc) these classes are sorted via matched ability as much as possible.
I just find it really odd. How will my DD and other Down syndrome children mix with other children if they don't get the opportunity at school?
Would IBU to question it?

Just ot make it clear, there is only one class with children who have Down syndrome. There are no other classes across the school that have Down syndrome in them.

That doesnt sound right at all... it would put me off and id be tempted to approach Ofsted..

They all seem very happy and comfortable in the class and I can see my DD fitting in very well but I can't pinpoint why it doesn't seem right @mammy

I wouldn’t be comfy with that. It should be about the class that is the best fit for the child not trying to put everyone in the same box based just on one aspect of who they are.

They seem very well looked after but just so sheltered and given the nature of some Down syndrome children, I'm not sure it's a good structure for them to be in.

A group of children with Down Syndrome will be as diverse as any other group of children. It seems quite bizarre to lump them all in together. I work with a child with Down Syndrome and no way would they fit into that environment.

Both of my adult children have autism. One has a degree and a job and the other is non-verbal and needs constant care. I'd not be happy if they'd been put in a class together based on them having autism.

It doesn't sound like the school has much of an idea regarding individuals with disabilities.

My relative was in a special Downs Syndrome class and the kids socialised with each other. It’s sad but the other kids tended not to mix with them as much because they were “different”. So they benefited from being grouped with peers.

I’m sure you already know this, but children with DS have a distinct learning profile and often quite different needs from, say, autistic children, so I can kind of see their reasoning. My DD is in MS Reception with 3 other children with DS, and having a group of them makes it easy to, say, teach the See and Learn system, which wouldn’t be appropriate for many other children.
Plus, children with DS often need more physio and OT input than others.
Having said that, it does sound a bit odd to group the children entirely by diagnosis rather than needs or developmental stage. Did you get the impression that the school has much specialist knowledge of teaching children with DS? Having some highly specialised staff might be another reason for organising the class this way.

I work in a special needs school and we have just begun this set up. Kids are grouped according to needs, it allows for the staff to be trained in that particular area and have a more specialised place on the school. Contrary to what it may seem having the children of different key stages together doesn't negitivtly effect the children as develpmeny us so vaired in children qith SEN .You could have an advanced 5 year old working at KS2 or a developmentally delayed 11 year old more suited to EYFS and It allow us to adapt there learning more to their area of development rather then the more rigid system of key stages. It's difficult to get you head around but does seem to be working in out children's favour. Hope she enjoys her new school .

Sorry would like to add that we havnt got children together purely on a DS diagnosis but if your child needs are such that they qualify for a place in a special needs setting then they may be more similar in terms of developmental stages and needs then it first appears

Apparently they have had lots of new staff and changes in the past year or so. So it could be that they are still getting to grips with it all.
You can see some of the children in that class can really push themselves to achieve (they are taking GCSEs!) it's such a contrast.
I did wonder if it had anything to do with what the parents wished? Do they have that much control?

Sputnikpeer ‘s comment could speak volumes, because of the way of the world, and discrimination/sensitivities, they might not be comfortable with saying what sputnik highlighted... Incase of offence. It sounds like everything seems right other than that? And if you think that you SDD would fit in perfectly, then maybe give it a go?

The only problem with that is I think socialisation in hugely important for my child and lots of other parents.
My DD is accademically able and benefits form a range of teaching strategies that may not be available in a minstream school. She will likely go on to hold down a job or volunteer. We will encourage independent living when she is older as she shows signs of being capable.
I think it's far more important for her to learn life skills and how to converse with people. I think that should start at school. They don't offer any sort of life skills course.

The child I support is in mainstream and is very able. Their difficulties are more social and we are working on confidence and that kind of thing.