Private schools for DS with ASD

[missymoomoomoomoomoo]

Hello

My son will move up to Senior school in a few years. He has ASD and an EHCP. He needs a full time TA at present to be in mainstream but I think that will decrease in next few years. He is quite clever (I think!) but not super academic. Very good at maths.

My question is that the local secondary schools round here are ok but not great and tbh I would quite like to send him to private school from yr7. How realistic is this though? Would a private school accept him?

My DS sounds similar - though he doesn't yet have an EHCP - and is currently in y7 at a private school - so yes it is "realistic" but it does depend on the school - we looked around a large number, both state and private, and there were plenty of private schools which would have been a terrible environment for him, as well as a number of state schools that might well have been brilliant (if we could have been sure of getting a place). Schools are not necessarily better just because they are private, and some of them only have excellent academic results because they only accept extremely bright kids who will do brilliantly at any school, and the school itself doesn't really add a great deal of value. There are also some amazing private schools which really go the extra mile to provide the best education possible and get the most out of every individual pupil without expecting them to be something they are not.

I have a friend whose DS with ASD is actually fully funded via the LEA to attend a private school (not a "special" school, it is mainstream) as it is the only school that is capable of meeting his particular needs. We didn't attempt to get that to happen for our DS as it was clear that the local state schools were certainly cabable of providing a good environment for him, but given we could afford the fees we felt more confident that the particular school we chose would just do it that much better, given his particular needs. If the LA take the view that they can't contribute to fees because there are viable state options available, you may still be able to get them to give your DS a "Personal Budget" that can be used to pay for the additional SEN support at a private school, with you meeting the actual school fees yourself. How that works out will depend on what is on the EHCP.

You can use the school search at www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/school-search/ to check which of your nearby schools claim to be able to meet the needs of pupils with ASD (there is an SEN tab on the profile of each school) - but a Y on that page isn't enough, it is all too easy for a school to pay lip service to the ideals of providing for special needs but not to actually put that into practice. You need to have face-to-face meetings with the SEN team at the school, and really understand what their attitude is.

Research this very carefully
My experience is that they say they accommodate Sn pupils, but in reality they still try to fit them into their mould

There are a handful of private schools that specialise in offering this sort of support - doesn’t need a special needs school but needs extra help to access mainstream accommodation.

Egerton Rothesay, for example, in Berkhamsted (30 mins from Euston). Children come from a wide area and some are funded by their LA as it’s the named school on the EHCP. Very very small class sizes and teachers who specialise in teaching children with these sorts of SEN. Mainstream curriculum for both GCSES and A-levels but also offers vocational qualifications for those more suited.

Some normal private schools may be interested in having a chat, but the sad reality is that many will say they won’t be able to meet his needs if he also needs a full time TA. My sister tried it for my niece and the schools just weren’t interested.

Accommodation????? Curriculum

Sorry, I’m not sure Egerton Rothesay does a levels. I know someone who went to their sixth form and thought she did A Levels. She went onto university afterwards so much have got something!!

hi @missymoomoomoomoomoo
Not sure where you are ....? If London have you tried North Bridge House?

@YayoKireZukusi I fully understand that some secondaries are just as good as privates, however round here I really am struggling, there are two options and I dont feel comfortable about either. I will look round them though

I think what I want is a nice school that welcomes differences and will work with DS to understand his full potential. It may require extra support though I think by yr7 that won't be a full time TA.

Trouble is, he is that chd that doesn't fit into mainstream without support and isn't right for special school.

I just want a nice inclusive private school that gives my DS the best possible chance of fulfilling his potential without being super academic. Unicorn terrority I fear. I am SW but almost willing to move for this

Chd? Child

Sibford school, pangbourne college, king ham hill school and ship lake college, bloxham, Leighton park would all accept SEN dc depending on exactly what the needs are. I’m afraid I only know about fairly local to us!
We are looking for private for DS1 from yr9, as currently in a prep that goes to yr8. He has ASD and dyslexia, but doesn’t sound as though he needs as much input in school as your ds. DS1 has only 1:1 once weekly for English input, plus some modifications in class /school generally. Classes are much smaller in private and the whole place can be less chaotic so you might find your ds copes a bit better.
I would look for somewhere with small classes, small overall, not obsessed with exam results. Have a look at the website for some of the schools above, and the good schools guide to get an idea of the type of thing so you can find it in the location you need.
Good luck!

Maybe consider Sidcot School if that is within reach for you?

I would recommend using ISI reports to see if any local private schools have children with EHCPs. If so, contact them and ask about your child's specific needs. Do you think, with smaller classes, he will need a full time TA? Secondary choschools ols who will have that as standard are few and far between. Look at The Royal School Haslemere, for example, that does and has had children with EHCPs.

SW I think Queen's Taunton and Millfield have had children with EHCPs but you might find a much smaller school suits better. If you are struggling with school refusal then it's possible flexi or weekly boarding could help there but that's a very personal choice, especially if you are willing to move.

LA should pay under EHCP if it's cheaper/similar cost than a mainstream with a TA or if mainstream no longer suitable as it will be cheaper than SEN placement. You may well have to appeal though so plan on self funding fir a few terms if vou want your child to start sooner. Bear in mind that if you move LA, the new LA will likely reassess needs and it could take even longer to get funded.

Bredon school in Gloucestershire would fit the bill.

Or if you are in Devon, have you looked at the Kingsley school in Bideford? Mainstream but with specialist provision available.