How to chose SEN or mainstream

[Mummalovescoffee]

Hi, looking for a bit of advice. My daughter is due to start primary school this year. She has global development delay and possible autism. Currently she goes to a mainstream preschool with a full time asn assistant. When applying for primary schools we were giving the choice of the mainstream primary school which is attached to the preschool she attends now or a SEN unit attached to a different primary school in a different catchment area 20 minutes away (the council would provide transport for her). How do I choose? what should I be looking at in these schools? Choosing her preschool was a no-brainer as its the only one in the area. Thank you for reading :)

Ok its technically called a child's plan but for easiness of explaining i called it an ehcp it literally does the same job

I don't know much about the SEN processes in Scotland, I don't think they had EHCPs there? I'd move this to a specifically Scottish board as I think that some of the info you get here won't be too useful

Ime you need to really visit and see the units
DS was in a speech/lanuage unit for infants, it was great, really supportive etc, well run and very quiet/silent when I popped in.

DD has a unit at her infants (i go in to read a lot which is where the unit is), and in my opinion, it's out of control, i dont think the kids are well regulated and i find some of the behaviour a bit distressing even though loads of DS friends have ASD so I am very "used" to a range of behaviours.

My DS is at MS Jrs atm as the units near me were chaotic and poorly run. But there's an amazing unit at the seniors which i am hoping for. Like schools in general they can be such a mixed bag.

I think you should take the SEN spot but also review what’s happening to make sure you’re fully informed. the terminology is different in Scotland (I live in Scotland too).

my friends fought like crazy to get their son a SEN place. Got knocked back for years and finally got a place in secondary - but the one miles away. Huge amount of paperwork to appeal and finally got the place they needed a week before school started in s1. These places are so rare and so important so I wouldn’t turn it down.

My thought would be take the SEN place and see how things go.

There are only two reasons I would consider mainstream, 1. if she is academically able, looking to the future will she take GCSE’S?

2. Does she socialise and play with other children her age, will she match their development? The gap often becomes bigger with peers as our children age.

I would take the SEN place, and if suitable reconsider for secondary school.

Ok I'll move it to the Scottish board. Thanks everyone

If you are being offered it, I would take the SEN place since they are usually almost impossible to get.

My son is in mainstream with 2:1 support and he's thriving luckily because he'd have very little chance of a SEN place or a place in a special school.

Though who knows what will happen if the new SEND changes means that because he's mainstream he doesn't need a EHCP.

I'd take the SEN place, they don't offer those lightly. If it turns out not to be right it is a LOT easier to move from SEN to mainstream than the other way around.

I have a background in Primary education and I would recommend taking the specialist provision every time.
No matter how competent the 1:1 support is, they are unlikely to be qualified teachers and input from out side agencies such as SALT is likely to be very limited. In a specialist unit there will almost certainly be an attached SALT who is in regular contact, likewise with Ed Psych support etc. The earlier a child has to this level of input the more progress they are likely to make.