Can you please recommend a mainstream secondary school that deals well with SEN - ANYWHERE in UK and UNDERSUBSCRIBED!

[SusieP40]

We want to move ds (Y8) from his current school as he is making no progress, is stressed and unhappy and is not having his SEN dealt with.

There is no other choice of school locally locally and so we have decided to move to an area with a school he could attend that might actually help him.

His SEN are dysgraphia/dyslexia and many aspergers-type traits (though this has not had a dx so far).

I had loads of fantastic suggestiions here on this thread
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/1656630-Do-your-dcs-attend-a-happy-and-decent-mixed-comp-Can-you-buy-a-4-bed-house-for-300-000-within-walking-distance
but unfortunately the schools I have called so far are generally oversubscribed.

Can anyone please recommend a school for us
(have also posted in SEN topic)

[SusieP40]

Dh did mention the weather in your neck of the woods! Does it rain alot really? Everything else about it looks fab - and we could get a lovely house there.

[Takver]

We're no-where near Merthyr at all! (Nothing against Merthyr, but its about 2 1/2 hours drive away.)

I would say here out in the extreme west our weather is more similar to say Devon or Cornwall than North Wales. So, definitely wetter than Cambridgeshire where we used to live (outs self!) though of course much warmer as well. But not anywhere near so wet as say Snowdonia.

It is definitely a good place to live so long as you have employment. There's very little in the way of 'jobs' (we also run our own business). But on the other hand the quality of life is really excellent. The only but is that you really do have to like outdoor activities, there isn't much 'culture' IYKWIM.

And, it is an awful long way to get to anywhere else, we have a 7 - 8 hour drive or train journey to visit DH's family on the south coast. The up side of all of that is that you can get very nice houses for not too much money!

[Oodsigma]

susie we had a bad year last year but so did most of the country. Where I am doesn't have the extremes(wind/rain/snow) that other bits do but I'm not going to say we are in a dry area. People just get on with it though.

[SusieP40]

hopeful bump

[grendel]

A couple of my friends send their children to St Bede's in Cambridge rather than to the local comp because of its excellent reputation for supporting children with SEN. Their children are absolutely thriving there.
www.st-bedes.org.uk/

I don't know if it is over-subscribed but I think if your child has SEN you get bumped up the list somehow (you would need to check this!). Both of my friends live out of catchment but managed to secure places for their children.
Obviously Cambridge itself isn't a cheap place to live but you could live further out in one of the villages where it is cheaper.

[SusieP40]

Hi Grendel and thanks for the recommendation. I looked at St Bedes website but unfortunately I dont know if would be suitable as it looks like religion is a very important aspect of the school (ds is athiest and an outspoken one at that!). Pity - I love Cambridgeshire and have an old friend who is there.

[grendel]

Not sure how 'in your face' the religion thing is. Neither of my friends who send their children there are religious at all. You're not expected to go to church or anything so far as I know. I kind of got the impression that the religious ethos just made it much more inclusive and accepting of difference.

[Lancelottie]

Really, Grendel? I doubt you'd get into St Bede's unless you do fulfil the religious side of the entry criteria OR have a statement (SEN statement in other words) naming the school, as it's usually oversubscribed -- or at least used to be, I may be out of date. They're pretty clear that faith or 'sympathy with the ethos' are required.

[Lancelottie]

Ah, I see that Grendel's friends may indeed have the SEN factor involved. That makes more sense (shouldn't skim-read!).

[SusieP40]

I rang the Cambs education authority. there are about 13 children on waiting list for Y8 but the (lovely) woman did say I would be able to get priority if I applied as a regular church goer. As we dont go to church (am an athiest) I struck St Bedes off my list. Pity cos it looked really nice!

[GotAnyGrapes]

Hi Susie, I know you are ideally looking for state schools but the area we have recently moved from has one or two excellent independent schools who specialise in HFA/dyslexia/dyspraxia. I know of 2 children whose parents sent them to the same school after their state schools failed them spectacularly. One has dyslexia and the other has aspergers. Both are thriving!

It's a fairly pricey area though you do get a few 4beds within your budget. However, as it's a densely populated urban area, living just one postcode along (thus adding 5 mins to journey) gets you a lot more for your money.

Good infrastructure too and easy into Manchester. Excellent state schools too especially primary. I was sad to leave but DHs job rules our life.

Anyway, here's a link to the school. Good luck! here

[auntpetunia]

I've replied on the other thread, can't copy it as on phone but do have a look . If you really are willing to go anywhere then the Sefton coast is a great place to be

[SusieP40]

ap, have replied on other thread! Yes to Crosby- it looks perfect for ds

Grapes, thanks for the recommendations. I am hoping that we can find a good state school as there seems to be so much available around the country. Will fall back onto independents if we have no luck in the state sector tho.

[lljkk]

On your other thread I am 99% sure that the school I referred to (Aylsham HS) is not over-subbed for current yr8. I have heard good things about their SN provision (mild dyslexia involved). Just saying.

[MaryMargaret]

Hi, I'm sure all the suggestions above are great and more from direct experience, but friends have chosen E-Act in Cinderford, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire for their dyslexic and big-school-wary DS - due to start Sept. I am pretty sure its undersubscribed and I have met the head v briefly a couple of times (she went over from the previous incarnation of Heywood) and I liked the little I saw, if you follow.

Cinderford is not an expensive town (!!) but surrounded by gorgeous countryside (well, forest mainly, open access, you can walk anywhere you like, lots of mountainbiking etc) and you can buy a cheap or a very expensive house round here depending just where you go.

The forest is a former mining area, big on rugby, and silver bands. I've been here 16 years now and I love it!

[Sunnyshores]

Its in the South, but I've heard very good reports about SEN in Hardenhuish and Sheldon (next door to each other) in Chippenham.
Town itself, not picturesque but lovely area and house prices reasonable.
www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/feb/10/lets-move-to-chippenham-wilts

[SusieP40]

I have spent most of the day (should have been working!) looking at Glos schools. Sunnyshores ,I think your suggestions are oversubscribed which is a shame because they look fantastic.

Mary, thanks for that - Glos council were so helpful and went through many schools with me that had places. Many of the Forest schools do currently have spaces so I am looking at them now. Will start with cinderford!


Lljkk, Aylsham looks great but the primaries seem to be miles away. I need to look at that more. Have dds in Y3 and Y1. Housing is such good value there tho, its very tempting!

[lljkk]

Colby will have spaces, even if Bure Valley or Buxton don't.

[Marney]

really wish id been able to find one when my dyslexic daughter was at school never did because the schools prefered to put the money into more average ability children it was more cost effective probably still happens good news is though universities are much better and despite bieng 3 years behind at school she got there in the end is now in second year Any good schools should be on a list for parents in this country so u can find one when u need one and why dont ofsted have conversations in private with children at the bottom of the heap to see if they wanted or want more help or are they happy they cant read or spell better than listening to the teachers explanations Should hope ofsted have been checking where the new pupil premiums are going

[weegiemum]

In scotland, your local comp has to take you, legally.

[thekitchenfairy]

Did you mean anywhere? Richard Lander School in Truro has self esteem at the heart of its curriculum and ethos, a nurture area at school which is a haven for children with SEN but is used and enjoyed by children throughout school.

Move to Cornwall might be a bit much, eh? Even for a fabulous school!

[MaryMargaret]

Good-oh; if you want to know more about the forest, message me by all means

[thekitchenfairy]

Did you mean anywhere? Richard Lander School in Truro has self esteem at the heart of its curriculum and ethos, a nurture area at school which is a haven for children with SEN but is used and enjoyed by children throughout school.

Move to Cornwall might be a bit much, eh? Even for a fabulous school!

[SusieP40]

Kitchenfairy, I love Cornwall. I will have a good look at the school website, nearby primaries, house costs etc. Would it be too much for a townie like me? surely not!

[Sushiqueen]

MaryMargaret I would agree with your comments about the school in Cinderford. One of my relatives went there (she is also dyslexic) and did really well. She was very well supported and has gone on to do well since leaving.
I have to agree as well that Cinderford is not an "expensive" town but the area around is lovely. And we have a good rugby team (my home team - even though I now live miles away). I must be due a visit home soon to watch a match (when the snow clears).
If you consider it, then look at some of the houses on the outskirts - my parents have a fantastic view over the Forest.