What does this mean?

[SayNoToStilton]

Please could somebody help me understand this - what does the local authority recommending “ASD Specialist Provision” actually mean? Does this mean a school solely for autistic students? Or could this mean a generic specialist school catering for many different types of SEN, with autism being one of them? Thanks x

I would have thought the former, OP. There are some specialist schools for children with autism. Do you think your child would benefit from this?

Are you in Scotland or England?

Hi, thanks for your replies, I am in England. My son would 100% suit an ASD specialist school; whereas a generic SEN school would be less appropriate for his individual presentation I think. The local authority have written at his annual review that they recommend “specialist ASD schooling” but my case worker then reeled off a list of generic SEN schools that will be consulted with. I have been doing my research on local SEN schools for a couple of years now, and I know none of them fit my son’s presentation.

There must be a huge difference between a general SEN school and a school that specialises in autism. Where is the nearest suitable school?

Edited to add: I don't mean you should reveal your location, just in terms of distance from your home.

There are some generic SEN schools within 30-40mins of our house but I don’t think they are right for him. There’s a specialist ASD school 15 minutes away, but it’s an independent so I can imagine it will be an absolute battle to get a place for him.

Many mainstream schools have specific SEND provision attached to it.

Even Send schools may specialise in certain provision. Our SEND school only takes specific children.

We have an SEMH base that would be unlikely to suit an Autistic child.
Even with an EHCP a place would be refused.

There is a drive to add autism hubs to schools and I would be having a conversation with your LA about plans in the pipeline

Funding also varies from setting and some resource bases get less for the same child than another setting simply based on the type of unit.

Funding also varies on the type of need a child has.

They wrote “consideration was given to mainstream and units” but it was felt ASD specialist is needed. I’m just trying to work out what they mean, and his case worker has gone AWOL once again 😂

I would take that as a specific school that caters for children whose needs are primarily ASD, however many special schools also cater for children with ASD, usually children with less language and learning difficulties. So it depends on your dc.

He doesn’t have a learning disability and is verbal/very talkative. However he does have a communication disorder (doesn’t read social cues to stop talking etc)

Where I live there is a mainstream secondary school with a large autism unit attached to the school with specialist staff. PE, Art and PHSE they are all taught together. are

but for academic subjects autistic DC taught in separate unit with specialist staff. I know they have more room than DC mainstream classrooms.

Does anyone on here work for a local authority or happen to be an Ed Psych and can unpick this a bit more for me please if poss? I’d be so grateful for clarity, and as mentioned the case worker isn’t responding to anything again

SENIASS should be able to help for free or Sunshine support if you’re able to pay.