Priory Schools

[motheroftwojedi]

Does anyone have any experience of sending their child(ren) to a priory school?

DS(7) is no longer coping in mainstream. He has a dual diagnosis of HF ASD and ADHD. He has extremely challenging behaviour, severe anxiety and isn’t accessing the curriculum. Both staff and other pupils are at risk of harm from him.

We’re meeting with his current SENCO and the LA to discuss where we go from here and want to push for a specialist placement.

Have seen priory schools, there is one just over half hour away from us. Are they actually as good as they look? How easy was it to get a place/sort funding etc?

We plan to visit but would be interested in hearing other people’s experiences.

Having thought we’d coped okay with his diagnosis, the thought of him now needing specialist educational placement, even though it’s for the best has floored us. So any support on how to manage this situation would be very gratefully received.

I am going through same process with my ds(10) currently at mainstream but they can't do anymore for him.
Ds has rare syndrome he can't talk never will, he signs and has communication aid too, working at 4yrs6mths.
The thing about SEN schools is that they teach them life skills and some education but it about making them independent so they can hopefully life a normal independent life.
Honestly I went and viewed local SEN and walked out thinking no way as all they showed me were the SLD (wheelchair) can't do anything at all.
Where my son can walk and his mind is that of 10 year old interests, but went to another one who showed be exactly which class my son would be in etc and I really could see him there actually happy as they don't focus or pressure them into learning as main steam school do.
How ever your ds is ASD ADHD my best friends son is the same and he goes to a school just for those who are ASD so my advice would be ask about a school which is only ASD or a mainstream with a ASD base where you son would be.
Good luck but you will be doing the right choice, it is scary as it all the what ifs but you will do what is best for your ds

Thanks.

It’s really hard. I don’t want his diagnoses to define him and feel like moving him to a specialist School is reinforcing the label of ASD. Equally I just want him to be happy and content and he currently hates school. A school geared up to cope with his needs would make his life so much better and that’s all we want. It’s a shift from what we thought our/his life would be like though.

It’s reassuring to hear you say that you could imagine your DS being happy in one of the schools you visited.

It is a massive shock as when your ds was born just like my ds? You think everything going to fine "normal" then to have your whole world and theirs turned upside down is mind blowing from the on set.
My sons school said to me to go look at as many schools as possible, the one in my LA area and outwards, as there is know guarantee there will be a place there for him.
SEN schools don't work like mainstream such as Y1,Y2,Y3 etc they are groups of abilities roughly around similar ages (10,11,12,13) but all working at the age of (5).
Honestly OP this will be the right move for ds and you as a parent as like I have said in other post, SEN schools don't follow mainstream structure, yes they will do maths but maths your son will use in day to day life, Such as (he goes to shop with £5 to buy bread and milk, bread £1.10 milk £0.90, how much change will you have?) that is what they will teach as this kind of maths is life skilled based, where as , let's say algebra when is ds going to use that?.
Like I said about looking further than just your own LA is because other LA may have the space available for you ds to start say this September, Which is what LA is trying to do for my ds.
Please if you are worrying or need anything else, please by all means just post to me or even private message me, If I can help you or support you in anyway shape of form I am more than willing too OP....good luck 🤞

Our son goes to a Priory college after a really crap experience in mainstream FE.

DS loves it and has made fantastic progress. We had a huge battle to get funding though and we are going through another one now to get funding for a third year.

It’s good to hear your positive experience of priory. We are about to embark on a battle for funding. Do you have any tips?

Presumably your son has an EHCP? If not you will need one for a specialist school.

When we were battling with the LA for first an EHCP and then the college, our solicitor recommended getting private EP and OT reports. We are fighting now for the placement to continue, and the solicitor has recommended getting an up to date EP report. Basically you need the EP to comment on the suitability of the placement you want as opposed to the one the LA wants.

My DS is at a Priory School now, and it is fantastic, but the journey to get him there was horrific.

Generally, in primary school, you need to have failed in mainstream (with a 1-1 TA) first.

Do take the time to do all of your research on different schools. They can be so different, and you know your child and what suits them.