4 year old ds with stutter - will private school help him??

[testbunny]

Hi there.

He is currently having therapy (his dad has a stutter too). I would prefer to send him to a state school (he will be starting reception in September), but would a smaller class size in a private school help him? Money would be an issue, but it is doable and I want to give him the best chance possible.

Any advise would be welcome - I am really worried about him....

Thank you.

If the support you need is something that would normally be accessed through the LEA then you are better off in state school. If you choose private school you are closing the door on any help from the LEA.

Ds was well supported by the NHS from birth to starting school. He then needed something that was under the LEA's budget and the NHS could not help at all. We were told that if ds was in state school then he would be supported but as it came out of the LEA budget we could not because ds was at private school. Even the consultant in charge of the Child Development Centre couldn't do anything to help (she was equally frustrated by the attitude of the LEA).

Thank you bisjo. That is useful to know.

Thank you bisjo. That is useful to know.

Test bunny, my DD is on the autistic spectrum and not in the state system. In hindsight, were she in a non-independent school she would have been referred through the school for diagnosis and had access to support services in school that have to be paid for privately because she is not in the state system.

There are probably very few state primaries that 'specialise' in supporting stammering, but at least in the state system you have the resources of any SEN team in the LEA more easily accessible (in theory). Michael Palin centre seems to be well respected and about the only specialist centre I have heard of to help with stammering in particular.

Thanks schmedz. We are going to keep him in the state system. Thank you everyone for your feedback. Tb x