The right secondary school for DD with Aspergers?

[mombasamum]

Hi - I'm new to this, so hope I get it right.

I'm looking for some helpful advice in choosing a secondary school for my DD who has Aspergers.

We live overseas so need a co-ed boarding school, which can be either state or independent, but I'm frustrated by DD school who have an IEP but really dont do anything with it.

So suggestions please - a small, friendly co-ed boarding school, with an excellent mentoring system with support in Maths and English comprehension, good at the Arts but most importantly good at encouraging self confidence and self belief!

Is there such a school out there?!

it might help if you say where you are?

Currently in Kenya, but looking for a boarding school in the UK.

Hi Mombamum, not an easy thing to find when you are not in the UK.

You may get more replies if you post on the education section of special needs, there are a lots of very experienced people on the special needs boards many with DCs with Aspergers.

I don't know anything about state bordings schools but they do exist.

The only school I can think as a possible to look at, would be St Christophers Letchworth, (private) but it is a loose, slightly alternative school, no uniform everyone uses first names ect, but it is very accepting and has some very quirky pupils,(although they don't advertise themselves as a special needs school) about 60 children board and the school goes right from nursery to sixth form, but its not for everyone, if you like formal education, uniforms etc. then it would not be a good choice.

Good luck with your search.

ahh i see, sorry.

so anywhere in the UK? or would you prefer her to be near any family you have over here?

would second posting in special needs as wlel, lots of v. knowledgeable people on there.

can I be really nosy and ask why you want her to stay in the UK rather than Kenya?

Isn't this kind of question exactly the sort of situation that agencies such as gabbitas exist to help with? Given the personal situation I think you would get a much better quality of advice from them (though you would have to pay for it) than you would from mumsnetters who, while well meaning, will not contain many people who have experience of more than one or two schools. You would also be able to give them more detailed information about your daughter, which you quite understandably wouldn't want to post on a public forum, enabling them to give a much more tailored response.

I was also going to say St Christophers.also Moyles Court(not sure if they are boarding or Kingham Hill

If you look on the Good Schools Guide online even without subscribing you can search to see which schools offer provision for Aspergers. For some reason the search engine won't work for me but off the top of my head I would suggest looking at Quaker schools or somewhere like St Christopher's as mentioned.

Thanks for all your suggestions - it is a difficult thing to do from here.
UK rather than Kenya - well its because although the standard of academic education here is high there's not much going on in the arts/music scene, especially where we live. Also I think its important DD deosnt think Kenya is the be all and end all of life - we have a nice life here - but not a very "real one" !

Hi Just out of interest does your daughter want to go to boarding school far away? As the mother of a dd with AS this would be last thing in the world she would want. But of course yours may be different. Lucky you living in Kenya, how fantastic!

DS is about to leave a large school so I'm not sure if it could be right for your child. However my son tells me the school feels no larger than his prep school which was a quarter of the size.

Let me know if you'd consider a larger school? It wasn't something we expected to do but this school is fantastic because it suits so many particularly well. 25% have a learning need, plenty of students around during the weekends and great whether you struggle or fly academically. No I don't work for the PR department, just proud my son attended such a good school!