High schools in Dunblane/Stirling area (autism/ADHD Mainstream)

[Oh4godssake]

Hello,

I'm researching a possible move to Dunblane area from the South East of England in 2024, to coincide with when my son will be starting secondary school. We've got an EHCP down here but would need to look into the Scottish equivalent of this, because he has some mild support needs.

He is academically very bright but with his AuDHD he struggles to make friends and would need quite a 'geeky calm' group around him.

What are the schools like around there in terms of SEND support? It will be a huge move and I'm concerned about how it will impact him and his younger sister.

The move is in order to be closer to family and friends after many years living far away from proper support.

I'd appreciate any advice or ideas. Thank you so much!!

There’s one in Alloa (?) with exceptional provisions - the name escapes me.

There isn’t really an ‘equivalent’ of EHCP I don’t think, but Stirling Council have something called Staged Intervention. Lots of children, like a third or something, are on the staged invention pathway - it goes from 1 to 4 - and my experience with it (as a parent) is that on 2 you have a support meeting with a deputy headteacher, relevant teachers etc, perhaps an outside support person about once a year and if your child is on stage 3 (which means outside agencies are involved too I think) it’s about once a term. There is an ASN outreach service through Stirling Council, so an ASN officer might visit your child at school and suggest adaptions or things that the school put in place. It’s all done on a need of the child basis I think, so not necessarily any particular support because of a diagnosis. No idea how it compares with where you are! Google ‘Stirling council Staged Invention’ and ‘Stirling Council ASN outreach’ to find out more of the processes. In terms of practical support, I think it varies a lot from child to child, school to school…it can be difficult to get enough support but there are a lot of supportive teachers!

St Modans has specialist autism provision, but think quite often dealing with challenging behaviours so may not be appropriate.

You are best to visit and ask to speak to the person in charge of additional needs at each school.

If you are thinking about Dunblane area be aware that getting a house is hard. Few available and lots looking for them. Lack of rental properties too. You might want to move in advance of starting high school so he goes to one of the three feeder schools for a period of time and meets people before moving to High school.

In terms of a calm geeky school am not sure you'll find that!!!

The only formal education plan in Scotland is a Co-ordinated support plan which is for children with substantial needs needing significant support from agencies outside of education so from what you’ve said he probably won’t qualify. Not sure on schools sorry.