Mainstream Special School for Autism

[StainlessSeal]

I appreciate the oxymoron! DD (10) has ASD. She is exceptionally bright, thought has a host of issues related to her ASD that means she's likely going to be much better in a specialist provision. We are going through the EHCP process now.

We love Limpsfield Grange, but are out of area. We have everything crossed that we can get her in, but need to look for alternatives, too. If she gets an EHCP does anyone know of ASD specialist schools commutable from South London that cater for bright ASD girls? DD really wants an all-girls provision, but I believe Limpsfield Grange is the only one.

Thanks that is really interesting to hear. Lower pressure at school academically but with heavy emphasis on behavioral adherence for those very minor infringements like the wrong ink color pen (in a kid who’s literally never badly behaved at school ) just seems to be anxiety inducing for DD.

Just stumbled across this thread.

My DD went to Limpsfield Grange. It's presented as a panacea for autistic girls but it's not necessarily right for everyone.

They don't focus on academics as much as social interaction and independence skills (which they are very good at) - they only offered a few subjects when DD was there (Maths, English, Art, Science, ICT & catering but ICT and Cooking were basic level BTECs.

DD left with no qualifications at all and she's very bright albeit not hugely academic. She's now stuck at college having to redo maths and English in a mainstream setting and it's holding her back from being able to do her course.

The classes are small so the girls get a lot of attention, but the teaching staff are a bit variable, as are the TAs.

It really depends on what you want? For very anxious girls who need to learn independence skills and build confidence over and above academics, then it's fine. The SALT provision is also really good. If academics are important, or if your girls are interested in a wider range of subjects, then I would say probably not.

It is a unique school as it's the only one that caters solely for autistic girls, but then there's nothing to measure them against. They have a high profile due to media and TV, but they're not a magic school and they won't suit everyone.

I know girls that have thrived there, but for my DD, in hindsight I would have sent her somewhere else.

Thank you MrrsTodd
I have to say Limpsfield Grange does sound like a magic school so it’s interesting to hear about how it’s been for your DD.

Do not believe the hype. This school is not what Ofsted reports it to be. We have had bad experiences but this is the worst. Cannot believe they have such status. This is not just my opinion. We have a significant team of people reviewing them and they are equally as shocked. Approach with extreme caution

Which one? Limpsfield? The impression I got when I visited that like a lot of sen schools your have to have the "just right" goldilocks of ASD. So your too bright, too far behind, to anxious, not anxious enough etc etc. But the head said it only works for girls who want very firm rules, no choice and consequences.

With this goldilocks complex I honestly think my dd is better in mainstream where the school has no rights to sift her out. Sad but true. Dd was borderline on her diagnosis and iq upper adverage and I'd say Limpsfield was not a good fit for her. No where is a good fit for her. They didn't show us one single classroom either.

Yes, I'd say that with hindsight, there really is no appropriate place that my DD could have gone too. She's quite independent but was clearly too independent - however, her learning difficulties were really ignored.

I always felt that some of the teachers (not all) blamed her for not being able to sort it herself. She struggled with focus and despite me spending 5 years repeatedly flagging it up, no-one ever bothered trying to find out why.

One thing she did say recently is that it was nice that none of the girls in her class cared about looking cool/trendy. She's carried that through and so seems to attract people now because they see her as 'authentic', which seems to be its own sort of cool.

I have to say, the public perception is, I think, very different from the opinions of some parents whose girls have been there. They do seem to have film crews and 'Celebs' in semi-regularly due to its status, but as I said, it seems to elevate it beyond criticism.

But the head said it only works for girls who want very firm rules, no choice and consequences

This is interesting as she didn't say that when we went to view it. It makes sense though, as I always felt they sometimes tried too hard to mould them into 'you'd never know she's autistic!'. Some girls may well respond to that but mine really didn't so felt very anxious a lot of the time about whether she was a bad person for getting told off.

I don't think it's intentional btw, but I don't think all the staff really understand autism and girls as well as they ought to or say they do.