How to choose schools for a bright child with ASC

[hibbledibble]

I'm looking for a secondary for my girl who has ASC. She is incredibly intelligent (tested many years ahead of her chronological age) but struggles with anxiety and accessing classroom learning.

I'm wondering what to look for in particular with secondary schools? I get the impression that she wouldn't qualify for a specialist unit, but we do need a school with good support, and ideally where there is a safe space for her to go to if required.

I have very little knowledge of this, so any advice welcome.

If relevant, we are in North London.

Does she have an EHCP? If she struggles with anxiety and accessing the classroom she is likely to qualify despite being academically able. Use the IPSEA website to find the letter to apply yourself as her school may well say she won't qualify!

She might well qualify for a specialist unit in a mainstream but it might not be the best provision. Without an EHCP assessment its hard to say if she just needs the right mainstream with some support to attend and counselling for her anxiety, say (when its possible an EHCP won't be issued) or if she'd benefit from smaller classes (think independent mainstream - yes you can get one paid for with an EHCP,, ASD unit within a mainstream - comes with support to attend some lessons in mainstream, usually, or a specialist school (LA run or independent) that supports children with anxiety or ASD - look for ones which do offer GCSEs and have some able children, try to avoid SEMH settings if she is upset by children who have difficulties with behaviour when needs are unmet. Sometime tuition centres work well for a child with ASD/anxiety also - sometimes this comes under "alternative provision" rather than a school.

I've experience with independent mainstream (daughter at small independent girls school weekly boarding, similar needs) and I'd suggest going to look at any that have EHCP's mentioned in their ISI or Ofsted reports. Asking to speak to the senco. Without an EHCP, most independents would look at such a child, but then you'd have to pay. With an EHCP it will depend on the needs and provision required.

You could pay for an Educational Psychologist report using someone who can recommend local schools for your daughter. This in turn could provide evidence that she needs an EHCP.

Thank you for such an informative post.

She doesn't have an EHCP as the diagnosis is recent, but I intend to discuss with the school in September.

She is on the waiting list for an educational psychologist, but paying for an independent one is a good idea, and not something I had considered.

Do you get boarding funded at an independent school via the EHCP?

Yes, weekly boarding funded as it was cheaper to fund weekly boarding and M/F transport, than to fund daily transport. The journey also 75 mins each way but technically that's acceptable.

Happy to discuss the school my daughter is at by pm. It's within reach of North London for weekly boarding

Oh, and don't wait til September to discuss EHCP with school, apply yourself now. It takes a minimum of 20 weeks from application, more likely a year if you are arguing placement. No way her school will apply before the end of September as it will take them ages to do the application form. All a parent needs to do is a short letter!

Excellent point, I had mistakenly believed I had to request it via school before making an application independently. I'll pm you. Thank you

What year is DD going in to? If Y6 you must apply for a secondary place via the normal admissions round even if you have applied for an EHCP. Otherwise if an EHCP is refused or you need to make multiple appeals you could end up needing to make a late application and be allocated a rubbish school far away. If an EHCP is finalised then it will overrule the place allocated via the normal admissions round. Speak to the SENCOs, sometimes their reply, lack of, tells a lot about a school's ethos.

@hibbledibble

Do you get boarding funded at an independent school via the EHCP?

You can, but it's difficult. The school has to be capable of supplying the support specified in the EHCP, so you need good evidence that your child needs the kind of support an independent school can offer, e.g. small classes, quiet environment etc. It's even more difficult to get a residential place, as you need to show either that there is no accessible day school that can meet your child's needs or that they need boarding provision for educational reasons, and not for, e.g., social reasons.

We got boarding as transport would have been more expensive. No need for residential in plan. No local similar schools could meet need. LA consulted with many

Social and emotional needs and development can be considered an educational need, which is why provision for social and emotional development can, and often should, be in section F. It is also possible to get social care to fund some or all of the residential costs where there is a social care need for residential.

Hi op here for solidarity as Dd also similar with probable ASD (not yet diagnosed) but iq is very high plus diagnosed SpLDs.
We are London based too although south and starting on the EHPC journey.
Best of luck happy to chat on DMs

Hi OP, we have DD with ASC diagnosis who is going into mainstream Secondary in N London this September. She is not as bright as your DD, but is cognitively able, in spite of this often being largely invisible due to demand avoidance and disinclination to engage with formal learning!

I did masses of research into possible schools for her including independent/state/local to us/out of town/mainstream/special school for academically able ASC girls, and would be happy to share my findings/impressions. Of course I can’t actually vouch for our Secondary as she has yet to start, but I do feel very positive about our choice (for the moment at least!) and have a good feeling about it, particularly in terms of mental health support which is supposed to be strong.

Happy to chat further if you like.

Hi, I'm reading this thread with interest as I'm in the same situation with my 14 year old DD. What is a tuition centre @sprongle1 ? thank you