Your views on Provision for ASD in Richmond

[Chailatte18]

I’m moving with my 3.5 year old son who will have already had an assessment. It seems to me that provision is pretty good in mainstream schools in Richmond. The person I spoke to on the SEND team was very helpful and positive. There also seem to be quite a few local support groups. Can any mums with experience comment? I would be moving specifically because it’s better for my son than where we are presently. Any tips re primary schools?

Off the top of my head the primary schools with specialist provision are Holy Trinity and Darrell in Richmond, East Sheen Primary, and Stanley in Teddington/Twickenham. There are no doubt others. All other mainstream primaries are inclusive (or should be) of SEN, but in my experience a statement helps. Happy to give you more advice but it depends whereabouts you are moving to as RUT is quite big. Windham Nursery also has a special needs unit (Jigsaw) specifically for ASD but you are probably too late if your DS is already 3.5.

A lot depends on where your child sits on the spectrum. My child goes out of borough because there is no adequate provision in Richmond, but he is not at the higher functioning end

Thanks so much- he’s fairly high functioning but behaviour and social skills are more of an issue- coping with shall rather than big transitions. I was thinking of Hampton, North Kingston or mortlake north sheen area ?

North Sheen good for Holy Trinity - outstanding school with special needs unit and also Darrell. I'd go and visit both and see what you think. Good luck.

There is also the George Tancred unit at St James primary in Twickenham.
Some children also go the the Language unit at Heathfield and the one at St Mary’s in Twickenham as well as lots who are included in mainstream with or without support. There is also plenty of children who go to specialist provision out of borough. Such as Blossom House. And Hillingdon Manor.The borough is always trying to cut down on this cost.
Clare do which is a moderate learning disability school also has many pupils on the autistic spectrum but I am not sure where the primary part is moving too

If you end up in Hampton there is also The Rise school in Feltham

Just realised the language unit at St Mary’s has closed (Sept2016) sorry for that

Thank you- Darrel looks very good as does Sheen Mount’s SEN offer ( houses v expensive in east sheen though) . I’ve heard great things about St James’ but we are not Catholic so I assumed we’d stand no chance. I actually feel like Richmond schools and council are pretty positive about asd provision. What’s your impression? I was also considering Cambridge but they don’t provide anything specific at primary stage when it’s most needed and autism is not really referred to on school websites. How do you think Richmond compares?

I was very impress with Darrell When I visited the school a few months ago

Entry to the George Tancred Unit at St James would depend on whether it’s named on your Ds,s EHCP not whether or not you are catholic. For all the units he would need an EHCP.
My kids are older but in it’s early days George Tancred had a particular ethos which parents either loved or hated. My kids didn’t go there so this is anecdotal and old info so you would need to check it out yourself and ask around for current info.
Have you been in touch with Richmond NAS?
Richmond have had to be more proactive with regard to ASD as the were spending a fortune on out of borough provision and transport. They still do. There are plenty of parents who aren’t afraid to go to tribunal to get the right provision for their children.