Secondary schools with great SENCO

[SENmama24]

Looking way ahead for Secondary schools for my kids (ASD and ADHD), got a few yrs to go, but wondering which secondary schools in Hertfordshire or Buckinghamshire have really good and supportive SENCO.
I have heard about Longdean in Hemel Hempstead, but do any of you awesome mums out there have SEN kids that go to Secondary schools in those counties who can sing praises about the SENCO departments? This is all new and want to get it right.... prepared to move if the school is right. Obviously I know schools can change each year, but hoping for the best!!
PS, no EHCP as yet, but need to start that...

It's a shame you didn't mention Herts/Bucks in the title of your thread. Maybe 'report' your thread to MNHQ or start a new thread mentioning the area in the title.

If it’s some way ahead, there’s no telling whether the person in post will be in post when your children are secondary age. Staff can change either way.

Op it might help you get good advice if you tell us a bit more about the age and genders of the kids and what they are into/like. Are they sporty, academic etc

I second this.

We chose Secondary a year early, based on reports of good SEN support. Then the pandemic came, then the SENCO moved. But even if the SENCO hadn't, the school's priorities had simply changed.

We delayed a move to get DC into this school, which screwed us over financially as prices skyrocketed. What a waste of time and money that was (and of hope).

Looking way ahead for Secondary schools for my kids (ASD and ADHD), got a few yrs to go

I think this would be a rather ‘stab in the dark’ way to choose a school. Sencos are fleeing the role, left, right and centre. Whoever you decide you like might not be in post in September, let alone ‘looking way ahead’!

Op, a good one is a start but remember they move, you need to ask how clued up teaches are about send, do they get training and so on.

As others have said, the SENCo may move or change roles over the course of 2-3 years, you really need to look at wider school culture and support, rather than relying on one person.

Definitely get the ehcp sorted asap though, as that can take a long time.

Get your paperwork sorted for now rather than worrying about this, things change at schools but also your kids needs may change - my dd went through phases of needing more and less support, also different kinds of support, what I thought she needed at 8 wasn't what she needed at 12 for instance.

Thank you everyone, for sharing your thoughts. I have noted them all. This is my eldest and want to make the right choice, but will take note and start work on the EHCP first I think, as I know this takes time....
Do you have to put your preferred school on the EHCP when applying? Or can you add the school in at a later date?
He's in yr3 ATM, so loads of time. This is all new to me....

You name the school you’d like for the next academic year, when the paperwork is being drawn up. At the Y5 AR, you’d be looking at naming a place for secondary.