Secondary SEN in Kent

[TheTealSeal]

We're considering moving to Kent from London and are looking for advice on secondary schools. DS1 has been diagnosed with ASD and has additional SEMH needs. He's currently at a mainstream primary and has an EHCP. He has the ability to access the national curriculum, but is currently still below the expectant level in some subjects.
We're looking for a SEN school or mainstream with great SEN support (maybe special resource provision) anywhere in/near Kent. Any insights would be greatly appreciated

Maybe take a look at the new Kings Park in Ashford.

I would advise thinking carefully about moving to Kent with an EHCP.

Seconding that - the county has a deservedly poor reputation for SEN.

@Needlenardlenoo @StrivingForSleep Thank you for your comments. Would love to hear more about your concerns. Also, are there any areas you would recommend which are known to great for SEN kids?

Kent: Parents call for apology over councillors' SEND comments - BBC News

I live in a London borough not far away and am on a Facebook group for parents of kids with a particular type of autism. A lot of them reside in Kent. The stories I have heard on that forum are really shocking.

I don't think anywhere in the country currently could be described as 'great for SEN kids'. Of course some schools and staff are good, great even, but it's pot luck. Personally I had to go to the lengths of working in one to find out if it was really inclusive. That is an option only open to teachers really!

If you're not dead set on the move you might be as well to stick with what you know. The grammar system that educates around 25% of Kent kids means the system there is pretty different to other parts of the country, even without SEN in the mix.

However, if you can afford private then Sackville School in Hildenborough has a large number of students with SEN and a surprisingly large number with EHCP (I don't know much about it as a school but it is in a group of private schools with another one I was considering for my DC at one stage).

In the current climate, there isn’t a great LA, I’m afraid.

The depths KCC will stoop to know no bounds, including trying to pay people to move out of the LA. They are the biggest Tribunal spenders. They are also a safety valve LA.

Personally, I would avoid Sackville.

I think Surrey potentially even slightly worse than Kent for SEN (too many articulate parents apparently).

https://www.itv.com/news/london/2025-02-27/grave-concerns-about-councils-handling-of-special-educational-needs-provision

Yes, SCC is horrendous too.

Given you have an EHCP, I would be very cautious moving at all. There is no guarantee that you will get the same as you get now.

London also has more choice of schools than you will get anywhere else.

SEN is broken right now. If you have a good EHCP then you are already way ahead.

If you are looking at schools, ask a lot of questions and don't trust things unless they can show you cold hard evidence of what happens in practice.