S.E.N.

[looneytunes123]

Hello, I am a Brit living in Holland but will be returning to the UK in the future. I have a stepson (13) who goes to a special needs school in Holland. We can live in the UK area of a special needs school to make things easier with travelling each day and to pick the right one for him. So I don't have any specific place in mind to live. I am thinking of the South West area generally though. What is the proceedure for him to be assessed as needing a special school by the UK government? Would this assessment be valid for any school? How can I do this while living in Holland? Is there a government list of state special schools or are they all fee paying? What are other helpful internet sites which could help me?
Thankyou in advance.

what kind of SEN? might help to narrow it down

Hi, He has been diagnosed with PDD-NOS.

Hi looney

For starters, I don't think they use PDD- NOS in the UK. Everything is being put under the Autism spectrum disorder. So they may diagnose him with social communication disorder or Autism spectrum...

If I had to choose an area to live that has somewhat more SEN support... I would live in a place like Surrey. They seem to have more provision there....

Some special schools in the UK are free, through you are required to go through a long procedure to get you son placed there... He has to go through assessment etc.

Independent special schools are fee paying. You are not required to go through the long process of getting an ECHP ( the legal document required for you to go to an LA maintained- free special school ) you can place your child there, if you have money, though if you want the LA to fund it you have to go through the whole assessment process etc.

Thanks for the advice/comments so far, all good. I have as suggested posted also on SN Children under PDD-NOS as it may get more specific.

I would probably avoid Surrey simply because their SEN department seems to be fantastically inefficient at the moment. I'd suggest you look at the IPSEA website for full details of the process for getting an Education Health and Care Plan in the UK which can lead to a placement funded by the council in a special school.