Independent SEN schools?

[user1479588581]

Looking like our lovely prep we have our just turned 5 year old at might be looking to manage him out further down the line. He is repeating reception and we’re fully confident we can get him up to standard by end of next year…but to cover all bases, can anyone recommend any independent SEN schools? We’re based in Sussex.

We need either a standard one that has a good senco department or a specialised potentially dyslexia (although that’s debatable as he’s an excellent reader!). He’s getting an official education psyc assessment sometime between July and September.

thanks!

You could look at Slindon

www.slindoncollege.co.uk/

I don’t know any schools as I’m not in your area. However I’d be investing in some private people to assess him - even the private people have 5/6 months wait.….

salt, ot, EP, inactive adhd ? Concentration ?

Also you can apply for an ehcp yourself to gain extra support…. then he might able to manage in mainstream. However if you don’t know if he struggles with anything else so at least you have all bases covered.

good luck

If he's an excellent reader at just turned 5, what is the issue?
Are you just at a very hot housey mixed London prep? If so, most of the schools in the home counties are more relaxed. Mine just mainly played in reception.

My 5 year old ASC DC has just been managed out of a prep. (He’s one of many, I'm
told).

It’s one thing to find a SEN school that is suitable for high achieving DC and quite another to persuade the LA to pay for it! (At least, that has been my experience). Several of the schools I approached did not allow parents to fund - which we were quite willing to do.

Our LA took the view that the prep deciding he was not suitable for mainstream didn’t mean he wasn’t - in fairness, we used our leverage with the prep to get their (crap) SENCo to write an EHCP with all the bells and whistles in return for us not making too much fuss about being kicked out. He is heading to an outstanding primary (although he is the 31st pupil in the class - got in because of SEN) and tbh they have already done more for him in terms of adjustments and buying decent sensory equipment than the prep did in years.

im going to follow this thread as I’m also interested to find any fee-paying SEN schools for academic ASC DC. Good luck OP. X

Depends what his needs might be. Some are focussed on behaviour, some ASD, some dyslexia or other SpLD and so on . Special schools tend not to start at infant age though unless for developmentally delayed or physically disabled. Where in Sussex are you based? Why the independent rather than state system?

You can search for schools here. If DS doesn’t have an EHCP you will need to check the school allow parents to self fund because not all independent SS do, some require an EHCP.

@BattenbergdowntheHatches look at some of Aspris’ school, some NAS schools, some Cavendish schools, Alderwasley Hall school, West Kirby school. There will be more options as DS gets older.

Special schools tend not to start at infant age though unless for developmentally delayed or physically disabled.

There are SS that cater for KS1 pupils who aren’t developmentally delayed or physically disabled. The options increase for older pupils, but there are options out there for younger pupils.

Thank you @LargeLegoHaul - we asked for West Kirby as we are close by. LA said not even possible until we've been kicked out of state mainstream. WK said they had nobody of DS' age and to look for somewhere else! It's so frustrating.

And they don't let parents pay fees - LA only.

@BattenbergdowntheHatches you may not want West Kirby if there isn’t a peer group, but if you did want it, it is a non-maintained special school so you don’t need the school to offer a place, it can be named even if they refuse. And the LA should only refuse to name it if they can prove:
-The setting is unsuitable for the age, ability, aptitude or special educational needs (“SEN”) of the child or young person; or
-The attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the provision of efficient education for others; or
-The attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the efficient use of resources.
so if you do want it do appeal.

If you are close to West Kirby depending on where you live, have you looked at NAS’s Church Lawton?

In my experience you need to wait a bit longer before getting formal assessments. I have been through all this once already with my eldest, and all signs point to my youngest having similar issues, age 6.
We are looking at independent schools with good SEN departments in the south but it is VERY hard to get accurate info.
There is not much benefit to having an EP report when they are so young, as so much changes and you will have to repeat it. You can help with the neuroplasticity though, so in the meantime, get yourself a really good paediatric OT and get doing some exercises. Also have a look here: fit-2-learn.com/
There are some great youtube videos for free.

A good EP is just as useful at 5 than at 15. The information within the report dates and with time updated assessments are needed, but that applies at 15 as it does 5.

Slindon College near Arundel would be ideal. My son is there in the secondary and we are very happy with it. Perhaps worth a visit?

OP’s DS is 5, Slindon College don’t admit until 8.

Frewen college in East Sussex takes kids from 7. Specialises in dyslexia and also other diagnosed conditions such as dyspraxia, dyscalculia etc.