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?

Well seeing as it's not something I've looked into then obviously I was stating IF

Local authority is a general term which includes county councils, borough councils and city councils. The child has an EHCP, which means she has significant extra needs and can't just be signed up to any school. The process of finding her a school is different to the process for the vast majority of children, who don't have this level of additional needs, and will be handled by the SEN team in her LA.

20% is a small chunk. I’d expect £900 a month to be a small amount of money for someone who can afford to send three children to private school.

That’s because some MN indulge strange myths about families who send their kids to private school. They’re not all Russian billionaires.

There are approx 25 boarding schools in Ireland. Have a look here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Boarding_schools_in_Ireland

I am from Ireland and have had children in boarding school and one who has ASD who chose to attend as a day pupil. In my expereince the school has been extremely accommodating of my children's AEN needs. Whether it will suit a child is highly individual.
Have a look at
https://www.newbridgecollege.ie/
https://kingshospital.ie/
www.stcolumbas.ie/

So it seems to be around 30k (euros) for boarding in Ireland. Is that cheaper than the day schools you'd be interested in if it weren't for the VAT OP?

I certainly don’t know of any private Irish boarding schools which are cheaper than local UK independents (maybe if you compare with special or elite schools ot might come closer).

Honestly, you are not helpful here. You’re years out of date.
Edited to say that Our Lady’s Bower stopped its boarding provision in 2014.

I’m not sure why we’re still only talking about Irish boarding schools when there state boarding schools in the U.K. for which you only pay the boarding fees. And being state schools they are required by law to admit SEN students and should, in theory at least, have reasonable SEN provision.

I think it would depend on the type of SEN the type of school. What provision they offer how they manage SEN needs, how well she communicates with you and others how comfortable she feels to tell you about things safeguarding etc.

and what the aim of sending her is. Is it for a better education, is it to manage her needs without worrying, to get her into further education or the world of work.

but I wouldn’t be against it. I do think there should be more residential type schools and I think mainstream schools are overloaded and cannot manage.

Phase transfer appeals are prioritised. Based on recent years, there won’t be court time to hear all cases before September. Some will be held in the autumn term, but when you can appeal, if you submit ASAP after the phase transfer deadline rather than waiting until the last minute, it should be held in the summer term of Y6.

My friend’s daughter was €8k ish per year boarding in a girls only state school a couple of years back so cheaper is out there.

I can't see any at that cost - was it with a large bursary? Seems like that would hardly cover the food bill never mind any charge for the teaching.

I just googled it it is currently €8,300 per year.

Former convent school there are a few of them around as I said these are public schools.

Just pay private in UK . Didn't kids with this EHCD except of VAT or am I dreaming this?

No is not, you certainly do not send kids to private school as a NEED . Mine is 30K a year primary in the SE and VAT is killing us. Only one salary at home too and not rich grandparents to help ( most of parents that have 3-4 kids in private do not pay the fees, it's the grandparents, which I find disgusting). We pay for everything .

I don’t think AIBU is the best place for this thread, try posting about your LA problems in the SEN section.
I haven’t read the full thread so apologies if this has already been said:

The LA may prefer your child go to a certain school but when a child has an EHCP parental preference bears more weight then LA preference. As long as you are prepared to transport her, you will get your first choice. Make sure you apply in time as applications open for EHCP dc much earlier than for everyone else.
Put your first three choices down but if you don’t get your first play merry hell. Your LA will have an advice line which is independent and can give excellent support. Also find out if there is a Parent Carer Forum local to you. If so go along to one of their events and ask the volunteers and other parents for advice.
Then finally see if there is a local carers trust. You probably consider yourself a parent not a carer but as a parent to a child with an EHCP you are a parent carer. The carers trust themselves may offer advice but the most useful thing is to meet other parents in your area and hear their lived experience.
There is nothing to stop you applying to private schools alongside your battle with the LA as a safety net.
Good luck.

Ireland is way behind in Sen support
It's really shocking how little funding there is there

Have you identified a school in the uk you want her to go to and the LA have said no? If so, appeal.

Imo sen kids need a lot of parental support. They often keep a lot in during the day then need to "decompress" at home. Boarding schools are not geared up for this. Also they suit girls who have adequate social skills and who are robust enough to cope in a quite intense atmosphere. Is your daughter like this?

I have two daughters who had ehc plans so I know what it's likevto find a good fit school. But imo the support they need out of school is just as important as the school itself.

That's crazy. Definitely not per term?

Is it? We have 2 kids with ASD our experience has been phenomenal ASD preschool, ASD unit for all of primary and significant resource and integration with mainstream. Mainstream in secondary even though Level 2 autistic in a school with phenomenal pastoral care, outstanding for that child.

For the other child intervention from a few months into junior infants right through to 6th, in a different school. Hopeless pastoral care in that secondary school, the school is just poor at it so I’d say it is school dependent here.

Thankfully our elder child really didn’t need it in secondary school as she is extremely bright.

I only hear people speaking about significant issues on here so I’d presumed the UK was poor and while Ireland is far from perfect obviously we know tonnes of other autism parents with similar experiences to ourselves.

No not per term. Google convent girls boarding schools in Ireland. I’m sure you’ll find them. These are not private schools so school books are free uniform is not included in that.

Oh sorry! I didn't realise it was state - that exists in the UK too but OP wants private.

Wow poor child. Stand up and fight for the school you need for your child.