Anyone know a private mainstream school for Year 1 that's great for special needs in London (ideally North!)

[HayleyK]

I really want to find a private school that has small class sizes that is gorgeous and nurturing but academic for my boy who has some attention/behavioural quirks (which I think may be partly exacerbated because of being in the wrong setting currently) and some fine and gross motor difficulties and has had a significant speech production disorder that he's mostly overcome. He's a bright boy, good at reading, loves learning, sociable etc. Ideally North London, but we would move anywhere if it was the perfect place!

A friend of mine lives near Barnet and SEN provision there is dire.

I'd be looking at state as well as private schools as many private schools are not always the ideal for children who have special needs. Also such places operate outside the LEAs remit and so run it their own way. A good state school with a nurturing environment, a decent SENCO who is on the case and a caring attitude shown by staff towards all pupils regardless of ability is of far more value than just academia alone or smaller class sizes.

Does your son currently have a Statement?. This is something I would suggest you apply for if such a document is not in place. How is he supported (or not) currently?. If his needs are not being met in a state school a private school may not be any more helpful in further getting those needs met.

Whatever you decide do your researches carefully and ask lots of questions.

You may also want to post on the Special Needs;Childrens part of this website as that forum receives far more daily traffic than this one does.

thanks v much (I changed nickname - sorry if confusing!) I'm going to look at state also, but I'm not sure we'll get a statement and the process takes so long, and I want to move him quickly and socially, i don't really want him to be the kid with the assistant, if we can avoid it.... I have posted on the SN section too. Thanks loads. I didn't mean academic, in terms of pushy - not really sure what I meant! I guess somewhere that supports kids that are quite bright but still have difficulties.

Abingdon house is excellent.

Riverston is impressive.

You need a non-selective.

thanks very much. Abingdon may well be a good option, though I had hoped for non sn. He has been in both sn and mainstream and seemed to be doing well in mainstream until last few weeks. Socially he has a lot of fun in mainstream, so would love to keep him somewhere where he can have local playdates and the other kids don't all have tricky behaviour (appreciate my child has some, but think if he is in a place where everyone else is also a bit quirky then might not be ideal in terms of modelling appropriate behaviour - my boy is big on copying at the moment!) but maybe they don't at Abingdon. I'll go and look. Riverston would mean a bigger life change as would have to move, but seems to be just the kind of school I'm looking for!

Abingdon aim to transition children into mainstream after a couple of years. It has a very 'private' feel to it. Riverston is a bit more like a posh state comp but with expertise.

There is also Egerton Rothesay but might be too far out.

Forgot to say, lots of private faith schools are non-selective and inclusive in their ethos, but don't usually have additional training in SEN so you'd have to work close with them. The key thing is the small class sizes.

If you don't mind me asking what are/were his SN that meant he attended SEN school for a bit?

he went to a nursery for children with speech difficulties. He had significant speech production disorder (now largely overcome and can communicate well) and has fine and gross motor skill difficulties. Very sociable and funny. Little bit excitable in a classroom setting but can focus well with right teacher. Little bit impulsive. Thanks loads for your help. Really appreciated!

I have a child with a similar profile. Probably a bit more SENy. He could manage in mainstream, but the trouble is that the majority of mainstreams can't manage him. He has no behavioural problems and very academically able but some communication and social skills difficulties.

Unfortunately his ability to thrive in mainstream (Rather than survive) will be totally down to the individuals involved and getting that level of information about schools is nigh impossible.

So just recently I've been to LOADS of schools of all different types. And these were the ones I came up with. Blossom House is also a good school but probably too SENy for you.

The way I see it though is that given the majority of mainstream schools will not be able to teach him how to get his education from a mainstream environment, so we are probably going for specialist provision for him to be taught these skills (i.e. group learning, attention, focus, subtlety of language) and we'll review regularly with the idea that he will attend MS at some point.

Schools like the ones mentioned often have OT and SALT incorporated and embedded in the curriculum and generally take children with average or above average cognitive ability.

Another school that I would have LOVED to have sent my ds to is Millbank. It is a state comp but amazing. But good luck with affording a house in Westminster............

thanks so much for your help. Am getting there with working this all out and feeling much better about it all.