To send my SEN child to boarding school abroad?

[Aislyn]

My child is in year 6 and we are facing the local council naming a school which is a disaster for her. They have said already that they will not name any of our preferences. She has an EHCP.

Private school in the UK is completely unaffordable due to VAT. I am feeling aggrieved about potential extra taxation due to SEN. It is only due to SEN that I am having to look at private school for her: she requires small class sizes and strong pastoral support, but is very intelligent.

Private boarding school in Ireland is cheaper than day school here. She has an Irish passport.

I am alternatively considering sending her further afield, where we have family.

Any recommendations for Irish schools?

Have you actually discussed this with her? It's a huge decision to make and you've given zero indication as to whether she would like to do that or not.

Can you move to Ireland?

You can appeal they probably have no legal basis for refusing to name your preferred setting?

Many students boarding in the local grammar school here. Big on pastoral support as well. Since upheaval with private schools in UK apparently more enquiries are coming from there as opposed to international students .

Poor child...

Appeal and fight for the right placement.

But I doubt your child will thrive being taken away from everything and everyone they know.

I can't imagine willingly sending my SEN child away to boarding school. That would feel like the worst off all options for us, I'd homeschool first and I'm 100% anti home schooling for my child but I couldn't trust him to be taken care of far away from me

There are state boarding schools in the UK. You pay for the boarding, the state provide the education. It might be worth looking in to.

I would rather fight the system and home educate my child until such time as we find the most appropriate setting than send them away. But you do you boo.

I'd home educate before I did that

So your child has SEN & extra needs for school setting but is perfectly fine to being sent to live at school in another country where she will have a completely new routine & won’t see her parents or know anyone.

something incredibly odd about why you would do this. I mean it’s barely acceptable for NT children but surely you are causing a need for more support & care.

Whether it’s unreasonable is very much down to whether the school they have chosen as suitable would be better then sending your dc away. What is wrong with it? Why is it a disaster? They will not be naming a school that cannot meet the needs but may not be willing to pay fees if a local authority school is suitable, most dc are in mainstream with support with ehcp’s and we worked with the school to make appropriate adaptations rather than fighting them

I can't work out the benefit of this at all. If she needs a specialist setting with extra support then I can't work out how you get from that need to the idea of a boarding school an entire flight away.

I can’t imagine how a child would suit a non specialist boarding school overseas but can’t be in a local school with adaptations?

I can't think of a more terrible idea

Sometimes residential provision is the best option for a child but I think it should be as near as possible to the child's home. In my opinion what you are suggesting is not what is best for your child.

Exactly. The fact she doesn’t even have a school in mind says it all about the plan really.

I know parents who have had to make the tough decision to use a residential placement but it’s not because they don’t like the local school for their academic child.

A child with SEN will quite likely absolutely drown at boarding school, especially if it's termly boarding. It's tough enough for a robust, confident, outgoing, sporty, academic and sociable child to successfully manage their studying, social life, washing and general organisation.

I’ve recent moved to Ireland with my three children. Irish pupils must learn the Irish language in all Irish schools -and take Irish as an exam subject in secondary school. unless child has a diagnosis making it too difficult for them. Then they can be exempt. Eg dyslexia. Or if they’re >12y when they move to Ireland.
I’d check out would your child be exempt prior to moving so you know what you’re getting into.
apart from considering the general upheaval of moving your family

Boher or institute of education are very busy schools. They are the only boarding i can think of. Of the international school which arent really for education in the same way

No it wouldn't work. Why do you think it's a brillant idea?

Asd is an automatic get out for irish

I don't think neurotypical children cope very well with boarding school so I'd say no to that idea.

Based on what is in your post it sounds like a terrible idea. How do you think your DD would manage being away from home? Does she have a good relationship with you? Does she have friends/siblings/cousins? Is she confident in making friends? Is she able to tell strangers what her needs are? Does she recognise when she is struggling and would she reach out to a stranger for support?

Have you looked into bursaries or scholarships at local independent schools near your current home? If she is very bright, or particularly gifted at sport/art/drama/music then you may be able to negate the 20% VAT with a fee reduction? If you are comfortable paying for boarding in Ireland, perhaps this would be an option to be able to keep her at home?