Hi there wonderful fellow ASD parents,
We are searching for an SEN school for our 6-year-old son who has high-functioning autism. He did fabulously in the early years at his mainstream school, but is really struggling with the constricted environment he now faces in Year 1. It's no-one's fault (we're very happy with the school), it's just that he isn't able to follow the rigorous (and inflexible) timetable of KS1. I'm a teacher myself and was worrying about how he would cope once he left the early years. We now face a difficult decision: which school to send him to. We have been to look at a few schools for ASD kids and though they are delightful settings that would no doubt be wonderful for his social/communication/sensory issues, they are nowhere near what he needs for his academic needs. My son is very clever and he has the potential to achieve highly, if his other needs can be met. It seems that nowhere can meet all his needs as the children were doing things in Year 3/4 that my son can already do now (such as write sentences, add 2+5 in their heads etc. - these were showed off to us parents as what their best were doing and it made me desperately nervous for my son's academic potential never being met). Despite very rarely managing to be in class and doing very little work as he is too anxious and defiant, my son is just below age-related expectations. He is astonishingly clever in maths and music, and his memory is exceptional; I am so desperate for him not to have to sacrifice his potential so that his other needs can be met. Surely there are ASD schools out there that are academic as well as wonderful at helping ASD kids with their complex needs?
So, I am reaching out to see if anyone here might know of any schools? We are looking at independent schools as well as state schools, as we are in a very fortunate position where we can get any help for him that he needs. We've ordered the Which guide to SEN schools to arrive on Monday, but before then, I was wondering if anyone might be able to recommend schools that have high academic profile as well as being good at meeting ASD kids' needs.
Thank you for all your help!!