Looking for a school to accommodate a 'quirky' DD!

[usernametaken]

We are looking for a school in the Wiltshire/Oxon/Berkshire area for our DD. We are happy with either private or state.
DD (age 7) is a very quirky (slightly Aspergers), highly intelligent (99.9+% IQ), individual girl. She is currently working about 4 years ahead of her age peers, copes well in older classrooms, reads like it's going out of fashion, writes constantly so creative in the literacy sense. A school that can offer a very broad curriculum is essential with a lot of extra curriculars would be great.
However, she has low self esteem, struggles with friendships (ASD related) but is very compliant with adults.
What can you recommend?
Many thanks.

I don't know but am interested to see what responses you get.

You might think about also posting on the SEN board?

Waverley School in Wokingham is a small private prep, very inclusive, brilliant with kids with SEN, and do really well at getting children into the Reading grammars and local selective private secondaries, if that's what you want.
They love quirky kids :)

How about The Dolphin in Twyford? They are very keen on treating each child as an individual.

Yes the Dolphin also has a great reputation. Quite "-alternative" in its approach according to friends.

Yes, I have very seriously considered the Dolphin for DS. In the end though I have chosen something bigger and more 'mainstream' for him because he is massive but average so I want him to have a fairly nuts and bolts education with the opportunity to play a great deal of rugby.

If he was more 'quirky' I definitely would have chosen the Dolphin. (I would like to go there!)

What about at secondary? Does anywhere embrace quirkiness at that level?

Waverley and Dolphin look terrific.

Don't know about girls but Winchester is known for valuing quirky boys (DH is a Wykehamist).

Also, DH worked at Bradfield and we lived in the school. It was perfectly acceptable to be a bit 'odd' there (in a good way).

Thanks so much EBD (and sorry for the hijack, OP. I hope you come back).

I am in Hants with DS with HFA and it's a puzzle to know where will suit him (and what he'll be like academically at 11).

Any school that ticks the quirky box is a good starting point.

I fear this might mean moving house.

How old is he now lionheart?

He's coming up for seven so will be at the juniors in September. I have also to think about his older brother, who is ten and has one more year left in juniors and is a whizz at everything academic.

Hard to know how to find something that works for both. The six year old is like any other six year old apart from quirks about order and rules, needing clear instructions and just someone who is aware of the spectrum and the anxiety it can produce. His present school has been fab but I can't honestly see how, further down the line, the local comp with 1200 children to watch out for, will work for him.

Dunhurst followed by Bedales?

Dunhurst looks great, QueenEdith. Funnily enough, I was looking at Bedales today (a bit of research on alternative schools for something else). It would bankrupt us be something of a financial stretch.

Have you looked at St Edward's in Oxford? I was chatting to someone on here who works there who said the pastoral care is second to none and they are great with both SEN and high fliers.

Oxford is a great place to live too.

Home ed...

I haven't EBD, but I will, thank you. Oxford is a possibility.

Can't do home ed. Prisoner, apart from anything else, DP and I both work full-time.

Thank you for all the replies!
Off now to look at The Dolphin and Waverley websites.
DD needs somewhere very academic (to suit her love of learning) and that will let her learn at her pace, full of extra curriculars (to suit us not wanting her to channel herself), great pastoral care (for the ASD and anxieties) and a place that allows her to be herself.

Good luck.

Some parents who work full-time use a home educating childminder. If you can afford private schools, the home ed CM option is likely to compare favourably in financial terms. If you find the right person, that would be the ultimate tailor-made education.

If you are thinking about Waverley or Dolphin, independent secondary schools that complement them very well locally are Leighton Park in Reading, which has a reputation for being fantastically nurturing, or Bearwood College Wokingham, which has a great reputation for success with NT kids, and kids that are quirky or have minor to moderate SEN. Both schools are supposed to be lovely.
Both have regular open days.
Don't just look at the overall exam results, as hidden within them are the individual successes. Ask the head for more detailed info as to leaver destinations, etc.

I didn't kno that Saracen.

Thanks LidlshopWaitrosebags I will look at those as well.

I'm looking at that great strip that runs either side of the M4 (for work reasons!) so anything that narrows it down is a good thing.

Snap with Waverley, Dolphin and Leighton Park! )

Leighton Park's website looks excellent too. We heard Kendrick was good, but I don't want any where pushy for her. Exam results aren't really a factor, we'd rather a place that nurtured her abilities in an unpushy way, she will do well if she isn't under stress to perform.
A friend mentioned St Helens and St Katherines...do they prefer girls who fit a 'mold' or individuals?

Have you looked at Pinewood? On Wilts/Oxon border. huge range of extra curricular, outdoorsy type focus - but with good academic record, it's just had a good isi report too, might be worth a look?

We thought about Pinewood as a friend's DD is very happy there, but Saturday school puts me off! Looks a fab school though with all the outdoor activities.