Searching for an independent boarding school

[SBilgrami]

Hi mums, I’m currently furiously searching for a good independent boarding school for my 9 year old going into year 5 that is NOT necessarily academically selective, and has good pastoral care/learning support as my wonderful son happens to fall on the autism spectrum. He is behind in maths and english but far exceeds in many other domains. I want to find him the best fit, money is not my primary concern, but finding a wonderful school for him is. Does the Oxfordshire area have any that you could recommend? Open to other areas too as he will be a boarder. Please please help!

So why do so many SEN schools offer boarding?

Dd is a day girl at a boarding school. The boarders are lovely and have a great time. They are older than 9 though. Sometimes it's important to look around you at the real world rather than relying on the internet for information which confirms your own bias.

@Whywere @speciall this is the Boarding School board - please don't derail this thread, the OP wants suggestions on schools to consider, she's not here to defend boarding. That's the whole point of this board. If you want to ask about why a parent would choose boarding, start another thread.

Boarding school is not right for some, but is right for others. Day school also not right for some, and right for others. Choice is important to make sure kids are in the right setting for their growth and flourishing, and parents are best placed to decide that.

ODFOD. I boarded, thrived and am not in any way damaged by it. Far from it.

Thank you so much

Hi! I’ve heard some amazing things about about Kingsley School in Devon. They are a boarding school and great for SEN. I’ve also heard they actually have a SEN faculty and a teacher there who is autistic and great with the children/understanding them

One reason parents choose a boarding school is because an appropriate day school within commuting distance is not available.

What about Stover school in Devon? Their ethos just about fits exactly what you say you're seeking.

Hi OP - are you looking for something alternative likes Bedales? You need a school to nurture the “far exceeds in many other domains”.

Friends with talented DC with ASD have all gone down the alternative school route and it has worked well.

Wychwood in Oxford is going co-ed, but starts at y7.

Probably too late, but might help someone else!

More House School, Farnham, Surrey
For boys who might struggle in mainstream schools. It offers a full range of specialist support, particularly for boys with specific learning and language-based difficulties, including Dyslexia, Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD).

Offers full boarding, weekly boarding and day places.

Kingham Hill School
Sibford
Bruern Abbey now has a Senior section but this is their first year so hard to know what it’s like