Online school experience

[Dyffi]

Hello, I'm about to choose an online school for DD who has some ALN. I'm looking at MVA and King's Inter High: does anyone have any experience of those schools or of online schooling in general? Thanks in advance!

I wonder if they do much more than send specifications and notes. Do they actually teach?

I believe they do 'teach' and they have classes and interaction between pupils. I know a number of people who use Kings Interhigh and have been very happy with it for their children. I think they use it due to anxiety of attending secondary school and are not behind academically, if that has any bearing.

Yes they have online classes taught by teachers. Really, look up what you are commenting on.
The 2 the OP mentions are very popular with children who find accessing physical school challenging.

Thanks all. My DD struggles with sensory processing issues, so we are going to trial an online school. In addition, her emotional development is around 2 years younger than her chronological age, so we are hoping that she can join a school year that matches this (as I think she will then have more in common with peers!). I'm struggling to sift through marketing material and make a decision. We might just have to choose a school and make the leap!

My DD1 did kings interhigh and got the GCSEs she needed for physical sixth form which she’s attended since September

Another vote for KIH. Gamechanger for my DC who sound similar to yours, OP.
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I want to thank the other posters for sharing their experiences. I stumbled across online schools - via this platform actually - and I am really grateful for that! My daughter is only 4 weeks in, but the change has been startling: She has gone from being placed in a specialist base, with very little access to mainstream, to a full curriculum. She appears to be excited, motivated and engaged (it's very early days for us but I'm really hoping it will continue to work for us).

I'm so glad it's working for you. Our child started at MVA at the start of this term after months out of school. We're taking it slowly but it's just brilliant to see them connecting with subjects again. The school offered for them to repeat a year but they were very against it.

Just to add that we have got this funded through an EHCP with the funding going through the old mainstream school. Interesting anxiety levels are so much lower that we're now exploring the possibility of doing some GCSEs at the old school and some at MVA, which MVA is supportive of.

Hi, hope it's ok to jump on your thread. I'm also looking at these two options for my DD, who will be going into year 10 in September. She's quite academic but struggles socially - we're on the waiting list for an autism assessment.
May I ask how your DD is doing, OP? (And also bumping for any other experiences and views!)
Thank you.

Hopeful Tuesday afternoon bump...

Hi @Dyffi we are in similar with 13 yr old and looking at online school - pastoral care and supportive environment are high up there on our list - can you share what you ended deciding on and how its going (we had a phone call with kings and MVA and kings seemed more business like but that may just be the onboarding team). We pon't have any funding support so trying to manage costs too but interested in peoples experience. Also has anyone tried out 'Net School' is that in same league as Kings and MVA? thx

Hi, so sorry to take so long to respond - I missed this. We are at King's- my daughter attended for 7 weeks before the summer break and is just waiting to go back. She really has adapted well to the online model. I am happy with the school - they have lectures for larger groups and then much smaller seminar type groups. They ensure that the kids participate/engage (regular pop up quizzes, direct questions etc.) The lessons are all live (although are recorded, so you can revisit). They have assemblies and phse classes and the school works hard to establish the sense of community. There are lots of social after school clubs (we started too late to join last year, but my daughter is looking forward to joining some this year). The teachers have been great - very approachable and committed. (I was also impressed when I spoke with MVA -- we actually chose King's because of timing.) I think I mentioned before that I stumbled across the online model- I had no idea such schools existed. I am really glad that we've found the school, as it appears to be a game changer for us: my daughter went from attending only one mainstream class to a full curriculum and (so far) is coping well. I am able to adjust the year groups, so she attends maths and science classes a year below her registration class and other subjects (I love that stage not age approach - and it was critical for us, as my daughter missed some basic, foundational principles in maths and science). I am also relieved that my daughter is able to attend a mainstream education without her being prey to bullies (she is vulnerable and I was always concerned that something might happen). I hope that helps! Good luck with it.

p.s. there is a good SEN team who can arrange additional support if that's of interest