What do they normally ask your child in an assessment morning at an independant school?

[FluffyBunnyGoneBad]

Besides what they are reading and doing academic tests, what else do they want to know/look for?

TIA

[LadyMuck]

@ what age?

[FluffyBunnyGoneBad]

He's 10, it's for year 6 entry (a junior attached to a senior)

[FluffyBunnyGoneBad]

No one?

[Quattrocento]

Knowledge of Descartes helps

Nah, honestly you can't prep for it, don't worry and relax

[FluffyBunnyGoneBad]

I don't want to prep him, I am worried though. The school he's at now is dire and I want him somewhere safe. He's very bright so the test will be OK, he has aspergers aswell. I suppose I can steer him in the right direction IYKWIM

[FluffyBunnyGoneBad]

Feck, they'll be 'testing' me aswell won't they!

[zanzibarmum]

Where do the independent schools get the SEN support for all the seemingly very bright children with autism, aspergers, dyslexia and dyscalulia.

[FluffyBunnyGoneBad]

[LadyMuck]

They have fully dedicated SEN staff in addition to the main class staff. Because there are few if any children whose needs are such that they would need a statement, SEN staff time goes to those who might well miss out in state schools. Varies amongst private schools, but some do charge extra for SEN support if one to one is necessary.

Smaller class sizes and freedom to move children up or down yeargroups can also be useful.

In terms of 10+, locally this would comprise of some written tests (essay, comprehensions, maths and reasoning). There would also be an interview where the child would be expected to talk about something of interest to them.

[janinlondon]

The interviews I have heard about concentrate on what the child enjoys - what are you good at? What do you like to do out of school? Looking for enthusiasm and communication skills. Also bonus points for mastering difficult extra curricular activities or for achievement. If they can talk about their passion for the grade 6 cello exam pieces or their strategy at the national chess championships I would think they were in......

[mimsum]

I thought the school he was at was fine and you were so relieved you weren't paying fees anymore

would it not be best for your son to have a period of stability, even if you don't think the setting is perfect? Especially if he's got asperger's, this constant chopping and changing isn't going to do him any good at all

[FluffyBunnyGoneBad]

Thankyou

I've spent many sleepless nights over this mimsmum, ds is being bullied, almost every day he's being hurt by someone, school shouldn't be like this, he's been thumped, kicked, has had his head pushed into a table, been pushed into a filing cabinet, he's coming home asking what a 'tosser', 'spastic' etc are as he's hearing this at school. The senco's said she'll talk to ds and get to know him so he feels more secure, this was said 4 weeks ago. She has also told me that there are boys moving into his class in September who they will "need to keep a very close eye on", I've had another teacher let slip that there were alot of children that don't behave at the school, especially at lunch/play time, I can't bring him home every day for lunch to protect him. I've seen the head arguing with a parent in the playground which isn't professional IMO, he's not getting anywhere academically and will need to move next September anyway. If I can move him to the same school he was going to move to now rather then next year then he'll have the support he needs and will be able to make good friends that he won't be leaving in 12 months time. The friends he has made at his current school all go to scouts so the plan is for ds to start there too so he can still see his friends. I'd rather he was at a school where they could support him and where he can sit and read a book outside without being called "nerdy gay boy/nerdy geek/nerdy gay boy that sucks his mum".

[FluffyBunnyGoneBad]

It's far less stressful to pay school fees then to keep him at his current school. At least I know he'll be safe(er).

[mimsum]

I don't mean to be nasty, so please don't take this the wrong way, but ever since I've been visiting mumsnet I've been aware of posts from you about your ds' education (and I don't come on that much!)

In the last 18 months, your ds has been at 3 different schools, no? For a child with possible asperger's that's an awful lot of change to deal with. He's also come across similar problems at all the schools, which would suggest to me that he's taking some of those problems with him.

Does he have a diagnosis yet? does he have a statement? are you sure the private school is really the right place for him? I seem to recall that you thought the last two places you sent him were "it".

How do you know that the prospective new school would be able to meet your ds' needs any better than the last 3 places? How does the new school view children with special needs? What sort of extra help is in place and would you have to pay extra? If your ds gets a statement, would they still accept him as a pupil? A lot of private schools wouldn't. Kids still get bullied at private schools, so paying fees does not necessarily mean your child will not suffer.

No school is going to be perfect and your son has got to learn to rub along with other people, to stick at things, to keep going when things get tough rather than run away - all things which don't come easily to a child with asperger's.

Believe me, I understand your angst - I have two children with statements and ds1 in particular can be very difficult - but in the long run constantly changing schools is not going to help your ds

[FluffyBunnyGoneBad]

It's OK, I feel bad enough about moving him again, I can't leave him wherehe is though, he's covered in bruises. There was an incident before half term where a group of boys tried to pull his underpants down, he managed to sit on the floor and stop them so they put dirt in his pants instead. He couldn't tell the teacher as he was embarassed and told me when I collected him. I wrote a letter complaining to the head, who denied it had happened and called ds a liar as he hadn't told his teacher . I know he wasn't lying, there was dirt on the toliet after he was in the bathroom .

The new school have their own school nurse, an educational psychologist and a support team. They have told me they have children with aspergers there at the moment. Ds has not had a formal diagnosis, I've not been supported in thinking he has this by any head, he's been labelled as a naughty child as he gets silly when he's got free time. I've worked with children who have aspergers. The senco at his current school agrees and has written a letter for the GP. The prospective school have a zero tolerance to bullying, the aspergers he has doesn't sound severe so he can manage very well with minimal support, he's currently having some help from a therapist which I've arranged for him. He'll have to leave next September anyway so it's better to do it now.

[scienceteacher]

It really depends on the school.

For Year 7 entry, we do an assessment day in January. We have everyone in for a day, and include our Year 6 in it. They have their examinations, but also do selected lessons, such as PE, drama, home economics. We are a non-selective school so the assessements are literally to gather information about the child.

If a child is in for an assessment for another year group, they will be on their own most likely, so they join the class and have a 'taster day', with short assessments fitted in.

[FluffyBunnyGoneBad]

Thankyou.