chichester schools

[blanksy]

thinking of moving to Chichester area. Would appreciate advice on primary and secondary schools (state). DS in reception and bright, DD currently in yr3 and SEN due to epilepsy.

In Hertfordshire at mo, fantastic schools but rubbish for SEN.

Are you talking non-denominational state schools...?

Chichester itself only has the Girls' High, Boys' High and Bishop Luffa which is CofE. If you're eventually hoping that your children will attend the same secondary you are unlikely to get into Luffa unless you go to church 3 weeks out of 4 or live incredibly close to the school. The other mixed schools are further afield.

and tis active church going

what a pile of crap

In terms of SEN provision you will need to check with individual schools as to how they will support your DD and help her to manage her epilepsy. Some schools will more clued up than others. Surely not every school in Hertfordshire is hopeless with SEN?!

I'm sure you'll find a school for your children near Chichester but IME schools in areas of more mixed, urban intakes are often better placed to accommodate children with additional needs because it is second nature to do so. Here in London lots of schools do all sorts to provide for children and their additional needs whether that be through flexi-schooling, being flexible with attendance reporting, 1:1 support, pastoral support plans and imaginative staff who know their way around the systems etc. whereas down in Poole I know of parents who are having to battle for every tiny adaptation in order for their adoptive child to even stand a chance at success.

you do knwo that is bollocks abotu kids being better served for SN in urban schools dont you

YoureGorgeous - I was speaking from my own experience as a teacher with knowledge of inner London schools and a certain amount of knowledge about some of the schools in the Chichester and Poole areas. Your experience is obviously different.

I wasn't claiming that all schools in urban areas are better for children with additional needs but that the OP needs to check individual schools as they will differ.

Bishop Luffa (Chichester) and the Bourne (Southbourne) both received outstanding Ofsted reports in the last few years and are both mixed. Bishop Luffa is a C of E school, so if you are Anglican regular attenders you are highly likely to get in. Bourne has quite a large number of children with SEN and families of these children like what they provide; Luffa has fewer but they also seem to do OK.
There are lots of small primaries and some bigger junior schools in the surrounding area. I am sure you would find good provision for your children.

I don't know what level of SN your daughter has but Chichester has a fantastic Special School, St Anthonys.