West Wales Steiner

[triplewhammy]

We are considering this for our daughter, who has aspergers. Any reports? We would be moving over 200 miles, so don't wish to go on a wild goose chase!

I don't have experience of this school but I had a friend who sent her son with autism to a steiner school, thinking it would suit him as they though it would be person centred. But they found that the school did not understand his condition properly and the school was not suited to him. They sent their son to a local authority school and that suited him better. I wonder if independent schools are actually less set up to deal with kids with special needs than local authorities who see a higher volume of such kids and have more resources of support to draw on. But then each school varies a lot depending on head teacher and culture in the school. Sorry not to be more of a help.

You could always try putting this on the local site too?

Do you mean Nant y Cwm? If so (and assuming your dd is secondary age given where you've posted) then bear in mind it only goes up to 14 / end yr 9.
Also, at least some dc leave at the end of year 8 if they're planning to go into regular secondary for KS4 so that they get a year to settle before choosing options.

I know a fair few dc who've been there, I think it's probably less 'steinery' than many steiner schools. Many dc move in and out of local schools / home ed / the steiner school, also a friend who is a conventionally qualified teacher albeit with a strong interest in alternative education was offered a post there (though didn't take it up due to low pay!)
I do know one boy who has (from parents reports) at the least many asd traits - though no diagnosis I believe - who went there for a while in early years - I think school and the community were supportive, but he was ultimately happier in local primary. However that I suspect was at least partly due to much shorter commute.

I'd say for many the make-or-break given the very small size of the school plus the fact you keep one teacher throughout is whether they 'gel' with their year group plus teacher.

Also bear in mind that employment opportunities near by are very scarce.

May sound like a daft question, but what are your reasons for considering it?

Have you heard of Appleford in Wiltshire? Might be worth looking at