Special education in Nottingham

[Mazglas]

Hi all,
Thinking of moving to Nottingham but am unsure about how the councils in the city view kids with special education needs. My little one is autistic ( moderate ) and has epilepsy. I am in the process of getting an EHCP sorted out. I don't want to move to an area were we are going to have grief and would really like a mainstream school with an attached special needs unit especially in a couple of years when we are dealing with secondary schools. Can anyone give me the low down ?

There are no mainstream schools in Nottingham that have a special needs unit attached, except for one for hearing impaired children. It has never been the model for the city or county council's there.

The threshold for special school in both the city and county is high, with the city's slightly lower but not hugely. You have to have significant needs that could not be catered for at all in mainstream to meet the threshold.

Where in the city are you thinking of moving?

Thank you for replying.

We have just started looking around to be honest but want to be able to be close to shops but have access to parks and open fields. We like the idea of the city being easy to get around and more compact for want of a better word. The suburbs like Hucknall, Stapleford, Carlton have been suggested. We currently live just on the fringes of London near Croydon, Surrey.

We have just been cautious as our child is current in a school that seem to ignore all recommendations from OT and professionals. Me in mama bear mode is not pretty at all.

Have you looked at West Bridgford if you want to be in a suburb? If you want to be closer to the city, Wollaton is very nice.

The nearest special school to Wollaton that supports children with autism is Foxwood, depending on whether your child meets the threshold for entry. If they did the EHCP would have to be complete before you move as no special school would accept a child without one.

Nethergate and Foxwood would be close schools for West Bridgford.

Mainstream schools in Wollaton and West Bridgford have a good reputation for supporting ASD and medical needs, as do most of the schools in Rushcliffe, which is the borough south of the city.

My son has a learning disability, autism, epilepsy and other neurological issues and he didn't meet the threshold for a special school in either the city or county authority, so you need to be prepared for a fight.

Out of the areas you listed - Stapleford is Nottinghamshire County, not City - not sure where Hucknall and Carlton fit with relation to the county boundaries but Stapleford is right on the edge of Derbyshire as well.

Don't know the age range you're after but my kids' school is only infants and not only followed OT to the letter but hounded the flipping OT department for 8 months to get the damned report released in the first place! It's infant only sadly.

Thanks for the info all.

My daughter is 8 years old and would need to be in a mainstream school just needs support.

We are open to areas really. We want a nice area mostly likely in the suburbs with good transport links. I am open to suggestions taking into consideration secondary schools in the future.

Your replies have given us more to think about. Any further suggestions of areas and schools would be appreciated.

You need to visit the city. If you like the idea of the city being easy to get around and more compact you wouldn't want to be in Stapleford for example which is right on the outskirts of Nottingham and nowhere near the city centre. None of the areas you have mentioned are very nice TBH.

Nottingham City's model is to academise education. Im not aware of any schools with an attached SEN unit for mild autism.

Beeston is a nice area with great links to everywhere from the city to derby and long eaton, bluecoat has a specialist autism unit at the wollaton and aspley site they have a good reputation, they also have a primary school ,other main streams with good sen provision are Alderman white, it has got alot better and fermwood but again these are mainstream ,Beeston is close to all of these and foxwood a send school ,there's a new school being built in stapleford autism only called hemlock school for 7 plus but not till next year, hope this helps x