Provision for ASD in Edinburgh schools

[Alwaysinahurrynow]

Just wondering if anyone has any advice on ASD provision in Edinburgh schools either state or private? I know the state schools have to provide for the children, but I’m worried that due to the mild nature in how he presents that he won’t qualify for any support and will fall between the cracks. In his assessment, he isn’t being referred for any support, so i’m feeling a bit lost.

I hadn’t even thought of applying for flexi-schooling (to be honest when I first heard about it, I was struggling to work out how it could work). Now, I can completely see how it might be great for my son as my alternative to homeschooling as he would really benefit from social interaction at school. I’ve left my contact details with the Edinburgh school advice service so waiting for a call back.

Our son is in P7 and the last few years have been good - we have child planning meetings a couple of times a year, more this year to prepare for high school transition. Focus is on identifying his strengths as well as where he needs help. We've already met a support person from high school who is looking at likely strategies/adjustments and all the local primaries are using some of their extra funding (can't remember the name but government money to address the attainment gap) to run extra transition activities for children with additional support needs.

Think a lot depends on staff though. Deputy head at our primary is very good at getting information, other agencies along to meetings etc. Previously it was all more chaotic. And there are documents on the council website about what options are available at school transitions, what parents can expect etc, but we found that ourselves nobody flagged it to us.

Immediately post diagnosis we struggled with lack of information but we know where we are now.

Private is variable I think. I know a couple of families who were basically told to remove their children from a particular school as the school wouldn't support them. One went to a different private school, the other to an out of catchment primary.

A late reply but wondered if it might help. We live in West Lothian, in a good area. Undiagnosed 7 yr old but ed psych has said to us that v likely to get an asd diagnosis (v mild symptoms though). Son has 3-4 sessions/wk in small group for extra support with literacy and maths with support worker, 1 session most weeks of drama to help with understanding emotion/social situations and 1 session most weeks of extra gym that works on core stability and balance. Also have sessions with learning support teacher in blocks of a month- maybe 2/yr to plan what the support workers need to be doing with him. Has had some 1:1 support sessions with one of the principle teachers throughout this year- maybe 10 since last August on top of that. Class teacher also amazing and totally 'gets' son so he is really happy at school. All of this has made a huge difference to my son's learning. Seems crazy/weird that ur child getting nothing??!! Would discussing with head teacher of school help?