school for v able autistic kids in Herts

[BeachAndSea]

I need to be looking for senior or an all - through school for my autistic and very academically able kids. They are not stretched by their primary school hence why I’m considering any primaries or preps. We need excellent understand and pastoral care for autistic kids but also challenge academically and not just left to own devices while teacher works to support others all the time.

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Hi @BeachAndSea 😊can you narrow down your geography a bit? Reason I ask is there are some excellent options for you in Cambridge area and a typical commute is to come in from Royston area or even further out. If that’s a possibility then I can advise!

No we are in South Herts so need Hertfordshire. Cambs is too far.

I live in S Herts, and know a reasonable amount about independent secondaries round here. The impression I get is that of the schools that might fit the bill, they focus either on SEN support or on the academic side, but none necessarily offer both in equal amounts iyswim. So which is the greater priority/on which would you be more willing to compromise? It may depend on quite how strongly autistic your DCs are. And are they boys or girls as there are still some single sex options.

This was my concern. I have a boy and a girl, high functioning but we need the pastoral care and understanding of autism. I know of St Chris but not sure if they will challenge them academically - no idea if they do or don’t and I’ve been on two tours. My children are not being stretched at their primary and really want to learn.

I’ve pm’d you @BeachAndSea

We're not in Herts but we had the same innate problem - my DS is an academically able boy but he was unable to learn at his very inclusive and supportive mainstream school because his autism makes him so anxious.

Most specialist autism schools take children with learning difficulties, which didn't give him a peer group and meant the school's curriculum would be too limited for him. Bright autistic kids can sometimes manage mainstream, or mainstream with a specialist unit, which my son couldn't cope with.

We have found a solution in Surrey, but people certainly suggested Egerton Rothesay in Berkhamsted to us. It was way too far from home, so we didn't explore it as an option, so I don't know anything more about it than its name, but perhaps worth a look.

Try Lochinver House School in Potters Bar. My autistic son thrived there and then got into Dame Alice Owen’s for secondary school - there’s a few quirky kids there and it’s cool to be clever! LHS is historically a boys school but they’ve gone co-ed from Reception this year so it depends how old your DD is as to whether that school would work for her.

Thank you, I know of Lochinver house but it’s so much with specialist teachers from year 3 and my concern is how they can nurture and care for the children when they may have had a problem at break and they just move from one teacher to the next - overwheelming for an artificial child who won’t speak up. Think mine are selective mute. Mine aren’t Ehcp level. Just mainstream is hard

propertymug would you mind DMing me about DAO and how you find that for an autistic child? I read an old thread on here where someone said the head doesn’t want sensitive or ND or autistic children.

I’ve sent you a pm op!