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?

This can't be for real

I can’t believe that the VAT is what makes British private school unaffordable. It’s a small chunk of the fees.

@Aislyn I’d look at state boarding schools here first - Cranbrook, Ripon Grammar, Sexey’s etc. There’s 34 in total:

https://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/uk-schools/advice/state-boarding-schools

Also look at Christ’s Hospital which is a charity foundation with means tested fees.

The school fees are only exempt from VAT if the LA is paying them. If the parent pays then we need to pay VAT.

How ridiculous!

How can a child simultaneously require "small classes and strong pastoral support" while also being capable of managing perfectly well living in a different country from her parents?

I call bullshit. No sensible, responsible parent would even consider this.

Boarding school would be a very tough environment for a child with SEN.
I can’t think of any I would recommend.

Do you think your child would thrive in this environment ?

I'm calling a wind up.

I cannot for the life of me imagine anyone sending a child overseas to board to save money. Surely the flights over and back will add up to make up for any difference. Not to mention car hire, boarding schools are not on airport routes and if you think you can hop on a train to wherever then you haven't done your research. Unless of course you dont plan on visiting at all. If that's the case, what happens if your child is sick, do you have £60 available for every GP visit?. Do you have a few 1000 saved for Dental care in Ireland?

I get that residential may be of benefit for all of you but the child should be at home for weekends and holidays. If you can't manage that then it's a terrible idea.

How much is the Irish school?

I know of a few private schools in england which may fit the bill are are circa 10-12k PA, would that not be preferable?

Why do you want to send your child away?

Everyone i know who is asd got an exemption and if you are coming over at 2nd level. I dont believe there are primary boarding schools you are exempt

I just can't see any way that sending your child to boarding school in another country will be better for them. You are saying they need small classes and strong pastoral support. So how would they cope with a total life upheaval? Moving away from home; hardly ever seeing their family; having no respite from school. That would be tough for any child, but especially with SEN.

I understand your frustrations, but I think you need to keep exploring other options.

It doesn’t sound like a very good idea- surely if she needs strong pastoral support, what she needs most of all will be constant and daily support from parents at home.

My DS who has ADHD would not do well in a boarding school - he loves going on school trips and scout camps etc, but he wouldn’t cope with daily school life in another country.

Can you appeal the LA’s decision?

Or is there a compromise - what is it about the schools you want to name that they object to? Are there more suitable schools they would be prepared to name.

If you want her at school in Ireland, you’d need to move there.

Sounds like sending her to board would be a terrible idea from what you’ve said (I appreciate that it’s only a snapshot but you’ve named as one of your two priorities something that makes it sound utterly unworkable).

Wouldn't it make more sense to appeal and home educate in the meantime?

What are you talking about? Nonsensical. What is ‘boher’? The institute of education is the equivalent of a sixth form crammed and is not a boarding school. You’re not being helpful.

Can I ask why people are talking about exemptions from learning Irish?

I don’t think this is a good idea for many reasons but if she’s an Irish passport holder, why wouldn’t she want to learn the language?

And learning any additional language is highly beneficial for the brain.

What is wrong with the schools the LA want to name on her EHCP and what is the difference between the schools you want them to name? How would those schools meet her needs while the LA preferred ones can't. If you have a strong argument that shows the LA schools can't meet her needs as set out in the EHCP you can appeal.
Also how can you be sure the school in Ireland or abroad can meet her needs as her EHCP will not be valid there and they won't have a legal obligation to provide anything

Lesson street does have boarders. Bower is what i meant I misstyped and didnt reliese. I couldnt think of any other boarding schools for girls as most have closed. And the boys ones like galbally dont apply.

You are barking up the wrong tree with suggesting Ireland. Private schools do not provide the best education for children with SEN and I would be surprised if you found a private school that felt they could meet your daughter’s needs. Private schools tend to be sports and academic focused. By far the better SEN provision in Ireland is in public schools. Also children finish primary school after 8 years in Ireland not 7 and they start school older aged 5 is typical so your child would be up to 2 years younger potentially.

Everyone else would have started learning it at five so she’d be eight years behind. That’s the issue .

What’s wrong with learning Irish language? We aren’t proposing to teach the kid to pole dance! Perfectly sensible language to learn since she actually has an Irish passport and will be living in the country

Because if she goes into 1st year in secondary school, she would be in the same class as those who have had eight years of lessons in Irish. They won't be learning the language, they will be studying novels and poetry. It wouldn't be the right place for her.

I guess you could consider boarding at a public school. There are a few girls schools that still do boarding. They might be a better option for provision for SEN but would your child cope?

Its not taught like french or german. Its basics are learnt at primary and in second level its comprehension and poems and such. If you have no irish at 12 you wont be able to learn it in school.

Rep Ireland education system is not same years as uk. Lots don’t start till 5 and do 8 years in primary school.
you need to check that your child would be able to start at 11.

what message does it send your child - you are sending them away to another country

My daughter is sen/asd and I personally would never send her away to a boarding school.
She has a ehcp, LA named mainstream sch which would of been a complete disaster so I stood my ground snd refused to send her. After a lot of work and fustration I got her a place in a independent school which has been the best thing I could of done for her.
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