St Marys special school Heathfield

[Dorianlpg2]

Hi all
The lea want to put our son into the school below and i was wondering if anyone had any info to share? Our son is high functioning and able to access the national curriculum.He was wrongly excluded from private school(subject to tribunal) We know this is not the right placement for our son but as usual lea digging heels?saving money !!!!

Thanks all

St Mary's School
Horam
Heathfield
East Sussex
TN21 0BT

Why are they saving money when this is a state boarding school? I would consider yourself lucky the LEA is paying for this very expensive provision. He must have been assessed as needing this placement and many local authorities no longer have such schools. If you want private special school
boarding, then I think finances are so tight, this would be unusual. The Ofsted inspection is good, so what, exactly, is the problem? Is it that you don’t like state schools?

Also, if you look at the type of child catered for at the school, it’s quite broad. Can you not find another private school? If this is impossible, then perhaps he has needs this school can address and he can always move at a later date.

Bubble
Thanks for the rather aggreived judgement! but I'm actually looking for info on the school? Please don't judge by saying and i quote "Is it that you don’t like state schools?" thats a rather broad statement considering you don't even know our whole story.
Im looking for helpful comments on the school thanks

Hi Dorian

No personal experience I’m afraid but my DS1 is at a different special boarding school in the same county, with fees paid by the LA, so I do know of St Mary’s Horam. I haven’t heard great things about it if I’m honest. I assume that your son must have an EHCP? If you are in East Sussex and are on Facebook, there’s a supportive FB group for East Sussex SEN parents. Many on there will likely have personal experience or at least know more than I do. I’d be happy to give you the details via PM if you’d like them.

Hi
My son join St Mary’s in 2017. He is High Functioning and was in mainstream. It’s the best thing we could have done. It really was the only option and I worried myself sick about it. In the end, my son was not being taught in mainstream, and he deserved better. He is very bright but teachers simply could not spend adequate time with him. At St Mary’s, there are 7 in his class and he has chance to learn. Yes, there is a broad spectrum of children there but they understand ASD and manage my son really well. He has made excellent progress. I know it’s tough as it feels that the LA is forcing it on you. However, mainstream is not the right environment for many children with ASD. Have a look around it. Find this excellent support group, Embrace, on Facebook and join. Ask members what they think. I heard lots of positive responses. Good luck, I wish you well.