Essex - nurturing secondary

[BeOne]

DD is 8 (Y3) and we're starting to think about secondary options for her. She is bright but has both dyslexia and ADHD which her current small prep school support her well in. I feel that at secondary she needs somewhere nurturing with good pastoral support but that will also stretch her academically. I fear she is not robust enough mentally to deal with the pressures of the grammar schools were she to be successful in the 11+. We're very open to whether she goes privately or to a state school and for me a good "fit" is the most important. We're currently in mid Essex and I need to be at work in the city ideally in more than 1hr20 but we'd like to move in the next 12-18 months so could be flexible in terms of location (although we do ideally need to still be in Essex). I'm going round in circles trying to work out what schools to look at and would welcome any suggestions. Thanks

Newhall is considered the best private school on the area for kids with SEN. I’d start there. It is a catholic school tho’ so a catholic prep or practising catholic family would be a requirement.

Thanks, I have it on pretty good authority that New Hall have started trying to "weed out" SEN children in their prep department which puts me off somewhat. We're also not Catholics so I don't think it's a good fit all round!

Felsted is excellent in terms of SEN and pastoral care.

St Joesph's - its a bit further, near Ipswich but worth a look.

I'd look at St Mary's Senior School for Girls in Colchester. I know a friend of DDs from prep with SEN that went there and it suited her very well.

I'd also look at Gosfield School near Halstead. Small classes, nurturing, less academically focussed than some of the other local indies.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, I'll have a look at them.
Does anyone have any experience of the new Beaulieu Park secondary school in Chelmsford?

Ipswich has good pastoral support and has learning support.
Buses run from Colchester for Ipswich, St Joseph's and Ipswich High School. I think the high school has been taken over fairly recently

I second Felsted. My ds is 15 and has Aspergers and has just secured a place and music scholarship for 6th form next September. He will board weekly as we're in South East Essex. We were blown away by the school and their SEN dept and pastoral care. Obv he's alot older but the process is still the same. I have a couple of friends whose kids have been there since year 7 and they also have SEN. I would definitely have a look round. Good luck.

Consider Alec Hunter in Braintree

Definitely NOT Newhall. They weed out SEN and are a business, not a nurturing school.

Private:St John's in Billericay and Thorpe Hall near Southend are both good schools with excellent SEN provision, both non-selective. You can get into the city in 1hr 20 mins.

All the state secondaries in and around Chelmsford/Billericay/Shenfield are good. The Ursuline in Brentwood is a small state girl's school. All the others are co-ed.

I am confused by the ‘authority’ you have this on. My child attends the Pre Prep at NH and the SEND provision for her and some of her classmates has been exceptional. Children are carefully monitored from the time they join, even if it it soo early for a formal diagnosis, with lots of support where it’s needed.

St Mary’s in Colchester and Felsted and also RHS if sporty . Other options would be St Joseph’s and Stoke College