Schools for ASD gifted children

[IfIwasablackbird]

Does anyone have experience of schools for gifted children who also have SEN?

My child is 3 and going for diagnosis for ASD (most likely).

They have an aptitude for numbers. They can add, times, subtract, divide, see patterns and continue them etc. Time tables being a firm favourite.

Their self care and social skills are way behind, as is speech but she is starting to read, can type simple words and knows things like the alphabet.

We have looked at SEN schools but the academic side just doesn’t seem to run alongside the sensory needs for example.

I don’t think what I’m looking for exists but wondered if anyone had experience of gifted neurodiverse children and the best way to support.

Dd was mainstream educated with support, for just the reason you said. She is academically and musically gifted

Doesn’t sound like your child would meet criteria for most special schools.
Like @gogomoto experience our daughter was gifted from an early age and mainstream educated.
Our local authority has ASD units in 3 mainstream schools and 2 in secondary to cater for children who are able but struggle to access mainstream school

With support that is

Grammar school was excellent.

DustyMaiden, I wish ours had been!

@24Dogcuddler The school feel mainstream might not be best.
I have been to a couple of the SEN schools for a visit and in honesty it didn’t feel right.
I guess we’ll see what the EHCP assessment throws up.

@IfIwasablackbird

Our local authority did offer specialist but I refused the placement because they had no track record of GCSEs being taken (they offered some functional skills courses) dd got 5* and 5a's! But I had to fight so they didn't warehouse her in this unit. For 14+ dd was in mainstream but had a separate study area off the school office, laptop and teachers set work for her, she could attend lessons but could leave and return to her bolt hole whenever she wanted. She had free rein on the staff room kettle and biscuit barrel (I regularly sent in packets!) This worked for her but it was a bespoke solution not something they had done before. 10-14 her mainstream school (different years there) had an autism unit that she could go to if classes overwhelmed her but mostly she was ok in class

Primary she was in mainstream, first school she shared a ta with another similar child, second school less successful due to smt issues, well head not accepting her diagnosis and had to really fight but class teachers great

Have you looked at independent specialist schools?

My dc have attended 3 different independent specialist schools. 2 older dc sat GCSEs.

Thanks @gogomoto.
This is exactly it, it feels like the SEN school is just storage for children the world won’t accept.
I will persevere with the school.

@Lioney silly question but independent as in solely for SEN?

Yes.
Expensive, £85k per annum but classes of only 6/8.

Therapy, OT, SALT, counselling etc. Links with local colleges and 6th forms.

Very bespoke placements.

@Lioney Blimey, that’s more than my salary so not an option by any stretch of the imagination.
I thought we were doing well funding private SALT etc but that’s next level!

@IfIwasablackbird Those kinds of placement tend to be funded by the LA as a last resort after other placements have broken down. For obvious price reasons, hardly anyone could afford to pay it privately.

We have autism units attached to mainstream. Why don’t the school think mainstream will work? If you go independent and they are gifted they may get a scholarship.

That said, my autistic daughter is very bright, but growing up and negotiating the social, communication elements of life and now puberty have meant autistic burn out. She isn’t suitable for special school, but mainstream is too overwhelming for her.

We are heading into Sept with no secondary place for her. We are pushing for an autism provision that sits alongside mainstream. A small, quiet independent school would be perfect for her (perhaps not the uniform) but it is beyond our means and LA will only pay if there is no suitable placement in LA.

@TorviShieldMaiden mainly sensory issues and lack of communication. No danger sense so permanent 121 with an adult.
However, through private salt there is now an AAC in place which is really helping so I hope this might make the difference.

I don't pay their fees, the schools (3 dc) are named on their EHCplans.

I second looking at independent specialist schools, some of them offer GCSEs and A levels. Failing that you could consider EOTAS.

@Lioney ah I see!
I will have a look into any local independents. Thank you.

My son goes to an independent SEN school for autism/SEMH. He is 6 and struggles a lot with his SEMH but is academically very gifted. Because the school is so small (four children per class) and independent they have the flexibility to adapt the curriculum to meet his academic needs. His class has two Y1, a Y2 and Y3. He does reading in a different class (with Y3 and Y4) and does maths with his 1:1 at a Y2/Y3 level. He then joins the rest of his class for play based learning and forest school, food tech and PE etc

@Sunshinebuttercupsrainbows was he placed as part of the EHCP?

@IfIwasablackbird yes, had to take it to tribunal (though the LA conceded a week before) but it was the only school in the neighbouring LA that said they could meet his needs (none in our LA could either).

@Lioney could you share the name of the school with me privatly please? We are looking for something similar, thanks!

Your comment is highly offensive. I work in a SEN school and we are definitely not 'just storage' for children. We teach a bespoke and challenging curriculum alongside skills for life and the workplace.

Is your child in year 3 or aged 3?