Finding a EBD school

[walesblackbird]

My 6 year old son is currently about to receive his 2nd exclusion from school because of his behaviour. We've now reached the point where, despite everything school have put in place to help him (including 10 hours 1-1), he really is not able to cope with mainstream at the moment.

He's going to panel at the end of November to see if he can get a place in our LA's EBD school. It has good Ofsted reports but I was just wondering how you go about researching what is available in the way of EBD provision. Does it have to be within our LA area or could we/should we be looking further afield for him. And where do you start?

At the moment he has a diagnosis of ADHD but we're fairly sure there's a whole lot more that will come out at some point.

We're under CAHMS, waiting for an formal assessment of Need from SS (he's adopted by the way).

Much as I would like him to remain in mainstream I have to recognise that it really is't working for him right now. And his behaviour is causing huge difficulties for my other two children as well. Not to mention me who's currently sporting some rather impressive teeth marks!

Have you talked to CAMHS about it? Could they give you some ideas or guidance?

the LA will normally look to place a child within its own schools first and only look further if what they have can't meet the child's needs. That said, many authorities pay neighbouring LAs to educate children and if you are lucky some get fees paid for indie placements though this is a hard one to win

Usually specialist provision is accessed by children with a statement. you don;t mention if your ds has one

if you want him to remain in mainstream then search around for somewhere you think might help address his difficulties. If you want to search for EBD provision the LA usually provide lists of specialist provision.

Where are you? There is sure to be a fellow mner in the same region who might know what's around

Hope the CAHMS assessment proves productive

If this is happening age six there is bound to be a complex underlying reason...

(I've been there. Oh yes)

...beware dedicated EBD provision for someone with complex SN rather than poor socialization. Only 0.5% of EBD schooled kids get five GCSEs. Yes. Half a percent.

Provisions vary, of course. And I had a good experience of a PRU. But your son seems to have gone beyond this.

I'd be pressing CAMHS/Ed psych for a more specific diagnosis, and looking around for more specialist provision that might educate as well as contain him...

There are some very good schools for EBD but I also agree that you have to be wary of them, particularly for children with underlying SN.

My LA tried to put my ASD son into an EBD placement - it might have contained his behaviour but it wouldn't have taught him any strategies to cope with the underlying ASD issues which caused the behaviour in the first place. If your son is having problems at such a young age, it's likely that there are also underlying issues. Have you looked into ASD or attachment disorders?

You can search for independent EBD schools on the Isbi website - but they will cost far more than the LA's own EBD school, so the LA would only agree to the placement if their own school couldn't meet your child's needs and there was not another cheaper option. I think there will be very few options for six year olds as most of them start at secondary/junior age.

Have you visited your LA's EBD school and what reasons do you have to think it won't meet your son's needs? Does the HT of the school think it would be suitable for your son?

Each LA will have a list of their special schools on their council website, so I would suggest looking at neighbouring LA websites and seeing which ones have EBD schools. Many LAs don't have any EBD schools but they might take EBD pupils in a mixed special school.

Thank you. I'm pretty sure there are some underlying reasons. Attachment Disorder not diagnosed but I'm as sure as I can be that there is some developmental trauma caused by his chaotic contact with birth family whilst in care prior to placement with us.

He is under CAHMS and so is seeing a therapist and a psychiatrist and is medicated for his ADHD - which helps to a degree. At least his rages are shorter than they have been.

This EBD school is experienced with Looked After Children and everyone involved with my son has said nothing but positive things about this particular school.

We're also waiting for Social Services to come back to us re a Assessment of Needs but as we all know that involves money .... and as an out of area adoption they're going to be reluctant to fund anything.

He cannot cope in mainstream despite support so with a heavy heart I have to recognise that, for now, that's not an option. And he does need to be educated and I know that he won't allow me to educate him.

His psychiatrist is reluctant at the moment to make any other diagnoses, preferring to wait and see what his therapy throws up.

He is very challenging at the moment - I have the teethmarks to prove it as well as the bruises. I know that he needs further help as he's struggling to cope with life at the moment. His medication only changed a few days ago and so maybe that's bedding in as well. Certainly the violence has increased in the past few months and I look at birth family history and it frightens me.

It sounds like you're in real need of respite. I know it's difficult to get help from SS, but I hope they offer something useful. Do you have an advocate or Carer's association locally who can support you?

It's good that other people are recommending the EBD but remember that you know your child's needs best so you should have the final say on whether it's the right school for your son. Do you think he will fit in there and that he'll be able to make progress there?

Well, to be fair, if he has a condition which is pervasive, ie. affects him all the time, then giving him 10 hours 1:1 is giving him an opportunity to fail for 70% of the time

Do you feel EBD is a good solution?

My DD1 was pretty hard work in preschool, and would have needed 32.5 hours 1:1 in MS. She was offered a special school place and they are coping well with her I think.

I think you're right Lougle. In order for him to be able to so much as cope in MS he would need full time 1-1, but even then the 1-1s that we have in our school certainly wouldn't have the expertise to be able to deal with his complex issues and would be, I think, more of a containment exercise than anything else. So rationally I do think that an EBD school is the best option for him now.

Ensure YOU visit the school and watch the students being taught, talk to the students, go with your gut feeling. There are some AWFUL SEBD schools out there, schools where the students learn nothing but bad habits, their rights and how to get exactly what they want by being bloody awful. Priory Talocher being one such example.