Homeschooling over LRC?

[Tiredboymum22]

Please don’t accuse me of ableism because I’m not trying to be ableist but I do have genuine concerns.

Initially, my son’s school didn’t want him in the LRC unit because he’s very academically able and miles ahead of his peers in reading and numeracy. They basically admitted he was too clever for the LRC unit. The nurture unit he was in only goes up to year 1 and they’re trying acclimatise him to mainstream. He’s really struggling bless him. He finds it hard in a class of 30. He's having sensory issues. He's refusing to follow instructions, etc. Subsequently, he may have to be in the LRC. This concerns me for two reasons:

1. Some of the children in LRC have severe learning difficulties and I don't want him to wonder what he’s doing there. I'm sorry if that sounds brutal but it's how I feel. I don't want him imitating behaviors either, which he does already. In other words, I don't want to limit his potential.

2- I have an autistic brother who went to a SEN school largely due to his behavioural issues, not his academic abilities (he's also very clever). He left with no GCSEs, and has almost become institutionalised because he was so coddled and sheltered. He’s openly expressed that he wishes he had the same opportunities as everyone else and nobody allowed him any independence. He also copied behaviours there such as head-banging and punching himself in the face. It was already present but worse when he was around other severely autistic kids.

I’m considering home schooling as an alternative. He already had a support network, friends, etc.

AIBU?

A smaller school maybe? It has crossed my mind.

Does he have an EHCP?

@Bluevelvetsofa no an IEP x

I’d join a homeschooling forum and get the lay of the land around what homeschooling could actually look like and different ways of delivering an appropriate curriculum. There’s a reason why teaching and early years are qualified professions, and it’s important to know about educational psychology and so on as well as just teaching how to read and write and count.

I have a friend who considered the same but ultimately looked for a more appropriate school instead: being 24/7 parent, carer and teacher to a kid with special needs, particularly one with emotional and behavioural issues, is relentless. Don’t underestimate the impact that will have on you and the rest of the family - and on your relationship with DS if he doesn’t want to engage with you in a learning capacity.

Equally, you need to consider the longer term impact of you not working, including affording to plan differently for retirement because of the hit to your pension etc.

I think you should apply for an EHCP. You can do it yourself and it’s based on need not diagnosis. Does he have any diagnosis? They’re often turned down at first, but you can persevere.

It does sound as though he’s overwhelmed in the classroom, but most state mainstream schools will have classes of 30.

Does he have a 1:1?
What does his IEP say?
Yes that particular SEN school wasn’t the right place for your brother but an SEN unit attached to a MS is different.
Your son is also different.

As an aside, I understand the reluctance regarding copying of behaviours but there are children with terrible behaviours in mainstream too.

I fought for appropriate provision in mainstream school for just this reason. Dd is now at university. They wanted to place her in special school but I refused due to the lack of academics. You have to go with your gut instinct

Special Ed doesn't necessarily mean non academic now. Two of my sons attended special Ed schools and one has graduated and one is at uni.
I am not trying to tell you it's not something to worry about but being in the right place for your child is.... either mainstream or special ed.

My DS goes to a specialist school and is taking GCSES. There are many types of special schools.

Can you afford independent school? A smaller class may suit him better.

I completely understand. The same applies to copying some behaviour of NT children. We had to home-educate. It comes with its advantages and disadvantages, just like school also does. Weighing every option, we find more benefits with home education and it's 80% more suitable than school's 20%.

Personally, I wouldn’t EHE. Request an EHCNA. Then, if you get an EHCP and mainstream or special school (although a minority of SS cater for academically able DC) isn’t appropriate look at EOTAS.