Hi there,
DD(10) is austistic with ADHD. She is in year 5, has an EHCP but is struggling at mainstream school. Currently missing a day (sometimes 2 days) a week as she needs the pressure taking off with the intensity and pace of lessons. We’re in north Oxfordshire and certain we want specialist provision for secondary as she will need small class size. She’s bright and artistic, but attainment has dipped in last 2 years, she used to be working at or exceeding, now she’s working slightly below or working at for things except Maths where she’s about 15m behind her peers. She struggles emotionally, she’s anxious and quick to anger, and it all comes out at home. She goes to therapy and we’re looking into ADHD meds currently as suspect a lot of the anxiety/anger is unmet needs in school and a very un-quiet mind.
I’m looking for people’s experiences of SEN secondary provision in the area. We want the option of doing GCSEs as she may be able to do them if the conditions for learning are right, and we don’t want to curtail that option prematurely but ideally the school would offer both GCSEs and Life Skills. So far have visited and discounted Warriner hub as class sizes too big, and Bloxham Grove as she’s not impaired enough and they don’t do GCSEs (though it was lovely). Same for Bardwell in Bicester.
Particularly interested in people’s experiences with LVS Oxford (visited and impressed but not quite sure), Park School in Chipping Norton, Ormerod Base in Marlborough, Sibford School and Woodeaton Manor? (I know WM is still in special measures but our SENCO assures us it is rapidly improving). Plus any others I might have overlooked! Thanks in advance.