state v's private

[Feelingthestrain]

Always assumed that we'd have to take indie route, but it is just possible that a selective state will make us an offer. My child has mild SEN, and I wonder if a good state would be better than an independent as may be more familiar with and accepting of SEN's. Any views?

Depends entirely on the individual schools you have in mind. I suggest you visit and ask.

You don't describe what SEN your child has, but I'd be very wary of putting a child with SEN in a private school.

All indie schools are diff so you'll have to find out what the school you like offers. But here are the thing I'd be worried about:

It's very hard to get expelled from a state school, but very easy for an indie to boot you out. So if your child has any behavioural issues ask hard questions.

In the state system if you get a TA you get it for free, some indie schools charge you for any TA support you need.

If they care about their league tables they can ask your child to leave before exams.

However of course all schools (state and indie) are diff so no one can answer your general. Just really think about what extra support your child needs, and ask all schools how they will provide it....

Thanks IndigoBell, the points you raise are rather the one's I feared. My deepest concern is that every and any problem will be because my child has a SEN, and in a school that isn't required to have SEN children, they may lack practical experience. Child is bright (I think the only reason that the Indies will even consider him), but will find it harder than his peers to settle, organise his time, etc. Think state will probaly be best option.

You have no way of knowing until you visit every school individually and see for yourself really. There are very good private schools, and some which are awful. The same goes for state schools.

SEN provision is just another factor, which you can look at when you visit the schools.

Good luck!

I would be worried about putting a child with SEN in a state school!

Floreat - do you have children with SEN?

It will depend on the school.
Ds1 see plenty of asd traits in some of the boys at his academic independent school and they are accepted and supported by their peers.
It do ends on your Childs needs and the individual school.

You cannot possibly make any sweeping assumptions without viewing the schools and speaking to them.

Do ends = depends.

Make no assumptions. Make an appointment with the SENCOs of the schools you're considering.

On the Good Schools Guide website you can view the SENCo experience of the schools (although these arent always up todate). I am looking for an indep school at the moment in London for my daughter with mild aspergers.. there seems to be some good schools. For me it will be very important that they understand the complexities of the condition. That will surely depend upon the indiv school whether state or indep. The prep school we are presently in has been fantastically supportive and our SENCo is even coming to look at some of the schools with me!

Thanks to everyone for your replies. May I make it clear that I have looked carefully at all the schools and have spoken to their respective SEN teams,read the guides etc. the reality seesm to be that here in London at least there is a lot of lip service given to SEN's, and I just wanted general advice.The reality is that we have to pick schools that are
1, Achievable
2, Available
3, Suitable
as ultimately I have to send my child to school somewhere...(ignoring home ed at this stage as very last choice for a child with difficulties in social communication. Thus ideally I would have found a school that is perfect, but I have to be realistic. My gut reaction is to throw it back to the indie school in question and ask them the same quastion. If they can't immeduiately reassure me then I think it will make the choice very easy.

I don't quite understand that post.

If you have been in and asked the schools and spoken to their sen teams, what are you going to now ask the independent schools that you haven't asked before.

and if you have additional questions why are you not asking the state schools those additional questions too..

I am not very awake so it may just be me....

I think it depends on the school , the child and the additional need. Very mild need may not be recognised in a state school, where as the child might flourish in an indie with small classes etc. A child with more significant needs may be better catered for in state where it is there job to cater for such issues. There are lots of things to consider, if your child has a social communication disorder. Class noise levels, behavoiur, like minded friends, lunch time clubs, do therapists, OT SALT go into the school. Is LSA support required, who will pay, Are they open to changing how the do things to meet your childs needs.

Thank you all