private school-can you get funding????

[crazygal]

hi everyone,
my ds is 7,and due to move to middle school next september,
he has had many problems at 1st school with behaviour,and has recently been diagnosed with mild adhd,he is not statemented.
we have to decide by jan which middle school he should go to,the one in our area is next to his school now,and i feel he needs a clean break,with new children,teachers and over all people who dont know him,or of him!!(hes a bad boy name in his school)
we would love to send him to a private school,
but,can we get funding??we both work and are on an average wage,but an extra £2500 a term going out would kill us,however we could get by if there was some form of help,
anyone any info at all?

I would make a couple of calls on Monday to any of the schools I suggested. They will all have different ways of doing things, but hopefully somewhere will come up with a deal that works for them and you.
Really good luck and me know on thread or PM how you get on.

ASLC

crazygal: you either look on the school's website before you ring (information on whether they offer bursaries will probably be there, in the fees section), or ask the admissions person if any are on offer and what you have to do to apply for one. The application for a bursary will run in parallel to the admissions process and will be specific to the individual school. Talking to the school's bursar early on is probably advisable (eg if the biggest bursary they can offer is 40% and you need more, at least you will know early on).

You'll have to hope ASteepLearningCurve comes back on the thread to answer about free places, as I've never heard of that requirement.

You need to enquire of the bursar what the criteria for a bursary are and if there are any currently available (if he joined at a non-standard time , for example, funds may already be allocated or you may by now have missed the application deadline). They may go up to 100% but that is usually for very low incomes on a sliding scale of assistance with a cut off point for any help that could be as low as 35k income pa - criteria will vary hugely from shcool to school and region to region. Also check what costs it includes in terms of lunches, trips, uniform, books, learning support, music lessons etc.

Usually the larger subsidies only go to children who would benefit themselves and the school by attending (ie very musical, academic, sporty) but would not otherwise consider it or be able to afford the opportunity. There may be strings attached though, if the child didn't cooperate (ie participate in music events), live up to potential, became disruptive or had a SEN they ultimately could n't manage. Learning support in a private school can be a very hit and miss affair and you could be charged for the one to one, so be honest and discuss it with the SENCO before you commit. Ultimatley a place and any funding is discretionary and whilst some may cite DDA and tribunals the reality is they can just say no.

Your current school is fobbing you off btw. He should be on the SEN register and if you applied for a statement they would be obliged to provide the amount of one to one it prescribed, not just as and when it suits. Plus it could even name his next school.

mmmm ok,well now you have said that,i bet ive missed the deadline for applying for a funded place.....i should have been on top of this! our choice in schools was suddenly on top of us,plus,i was hoping my ds would make friends and i wouldnt have to leave the area....
i will ring them tomorrow and see what my options are so i know were i am.
my ds is like most children in his class,slighhtly above average in some areas and slightly below in others,his maths is high,his reading and writing are low

i didnt realise a private school could possible charge you for a one 2 one! wow,
i know my ds is disruptive in class,i will discuss all of this tomorrow.thank you,x

my ds got diagnosed 2 weeks ago with mild to moderate adhd,so im very "new" to all of this,im scared of statementing,do chlidren with "mild to moderate" get a statement?i dont know what to do,how to go about it,what if they say no,they say hes not that bad,but then the following week they say hes disruptive and hard work,confused.com!!