Independent school options for diverse DSs

[LegoManOh]

I would be really grateful for independent school recommendations.

I currently live in Aberdeenshire - north of Aberdeen.

I have a very bright, academic - but needs pushing - DS in P3. And DS2 will start P1 this August (May birthday so no option to defer) and has a significant speech and language delay.

DS1's school are very reluctant to take DS2 and it doesn't feel the right fit for him at all.

In the meantime my job is moving to entirely "work from home" so we could technically live anywhere.

I'd like to stay in Scotland. XH shuttles between Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen for work. I don't want to make access difficult as he'll give up easily / not put much effort in.

My current focus is finding the right school. I've left it late for P1 as I thought the current school would have a better attitude but it has just got worse.

I would therefore be really grateful for school suggestions - likely to accommodate a bright boy who needs a push and structure AND a boy would needs additional support.

I would really like them in the same school. And would wait for P2 / P5 entry for the right school.

Thanks for any pointers.

Locally I have Lathallan on the potential list - but even there would need a house move.

It sounds like have 2 very different boys so maybe the same school to suit both doesn't exist? The independent sector can very much pick and choose who they admit and often don't have access to the same additional support network for the youngest that you'd find in the state sector. Have you looked at what the state sector could offer the youngest in the way of additional support? The label "special school" is awful as all children are special in their own way but they'd offer even smaller classes than an independent school and often provide transport which might alleviate the issue of having them in different places. Could you maybe talk to your health visitor for suggestions?

@emmathedilemma Thank you for your reply. It feels awful to take the opportunities away from my eldest - for my youngest. The state school option is pretty dreadful where I am - it's why we went private for the older boy - so would need a move anyway.

No Health Visitor at the moment - we nominally have one but she was redeployed for Covid - there one HV now for the whole area with a strict voice mail triage saying only leave a message for a call back if essential and urgent. With a domestic violence helpline number at the end. So I couldn't talk about this.

Sorry - to add - DS2 would be offered a shared PSA if we go to the local state primary. He's not meeting any of the criteria for SEN schools or the local support hub school. Mainly there are no challenging behaviours (he's quiet as a mouse).

If the school ds1 is at is unwilling to take ds2 is there another private alternative ? Or would a placing request to another state school for ds2 work?

I am in Aberdeenshire ( south of the city) and know that a sibling of a child dd was at school with went to another local state primary as the family felt it was a better fit - sibling had some SEN.

Might be worth contacting education dept in Aberdeen City for advice ?