Mainstream secondary for DS with ASD, SW London

[Gekkouga]

DS8 is in year 4 at a small nurturing primary. He has ASD and an EHCP which grants him 1:1 with a LSA for the mornings at school. Academically he’s doing ok - with the support of his fab LSA - and keeping up with his peers. Although he is bright (in his own, unique and creative way), I doubt he’d get on very well with very selective exams.

I know this question has been asked so many times on this forum, but can anyone recommend a good mainstream school for a child like him? I’m thinking of somewhere small and not overwhelming. I can’t see him thriving in a large, noisy, secondary, and for that reason we have been saving up to allow him to go private if that’s the best option for him.

He’s not sporty at all, so I have in mind somewhere quite creative and nurturing, with decent SEN support. I’m not sure he will qualify for an EHCP for secondary school, but we have not yet gone through that process.

We live in SW London. Willing to travel to the right school but won’t be able to move house to very far away because of other siblings schooling.

Thanks so much.

I can’t help with school suggestions, but the LA can only cease to maintain the EHCP in limited circumstances - it is not something you have to reapply for or re qualify for secondary school. This explains it more.

If a state MS cannot meet DS’s needs it is possible to get an indie MS named in the EHCP, therefore the LA are responsible for paying fees.

@Imitatingdory, thank you so much. I wasn’t aware of that. I had always thought you had to re-apply for secondary. We’d obviously be keen to maintain the EHCP as it has been so beneficial to our son, but have also assumed that if we find a private school that would be the best place for him, we’d have to foot the bill.

If he's keeping up academically some independent mainstream schools would be happy to consider him with his ehcp, St James Senior Boys in Ashford, Surrey have quite a lot of high functioning Sen children for example, although they are becoming more selective than they used to be. More House in Farnham is a great school which caters for children with Asd and other things too and they get fab results but you'd need to be prepared to board or travel out by train, though apparently they have lots of London kids. In our borough there are several mainstream state secondaries with Asd bases to provide help but a mainstream curriculum and ehcp kids get more priority for admissions I think (I have one child with an ehcp but he is still in primary).

Ehcps can go up to age 26 but are reviewed annually.

It's true that if you wanted the entire independent school fees to be paid by the ehcp you'd have to have it altered but some local authorities will give top up funding to an independent mainstream school for the Sen help or a 1:1 if parents are responsible for the mainstream fees.

Fiction EHCPs last until 25, not 26, and whilst they are reviewed annually the LA can only cease to maintained in limited circumstances.

In order to access the vast majority of ARPs you need an EHCP.

Whilst some LAs will sometimes come to an arrangement for independent MS with parents paying the fees and the LA paying for the SEN support many other LAs are of the view parents paying the fees means the parents are making suitable alternative arrangements and therefore they are relieved of their duties. If OP’s DS needs independent mainstream provision it should be named in the EHCP so the LA are responsible for all costs.

@fictionreader and @Imitatingdory, thanks again for your contributions.

Fictionreader: I had never heard of St James in Ashford, will look into it. Do you have any names for mainstream state secondaries that have specific provision for ASD? I don’t think there are any in our immediate area but would be really interested to know more about these schools.

Imitating dory: do you have any tips as to how to approach the EHCP review in year 5 to ensure that there is more of a chance of getting some funding for 1:1 additional support if needed in an independent school? As I say, we’ve been trying to save up to allow us to go private for DS if that’s the best option for him, but our savings wouldn’t extend to paying for additional support. I’d hate to do anything that would lead us to lose the EHCP entirely! Apologies also for the slightly uninformed questions, I have had my head in the sand since we managed to get an EHCP in the first place! Really dreading the transition to secondary…

@Gekkouga which borough are you in? I don't think it's possible to actually lose an ehcp once it's been granted, they just redo them each year to reflect whatever circumstances are going on. Have you dealt with any of the free advocacy charities such as Sendiass? This charity also has runs advice and advocacy sessions in sw London www.skylarks.charity/

It is evidence you need, that is what will get you an independent MS and SEN provision paid for. I would be collating evidence DS a) cannot cope in large class sizes in a large, busy school/needs small class sizes (preferably quantified) in a smaller school, and b) needs 1:1. That way no state MS can meet his needs as none will be able to provide smaller classes, and very few will be able to provide the smaller school DS needs. And, you can prove DS requires 1:1. What are the reports like, how old are they? Do you need to request a reassessment of needs?

Most London boroughs have ARPs, if you post where you are someone may be able to help more. Alternatively if you google you should be able to find them. Also, if Surrey is within travelling distance Hinchley Wood and Salesian both have ARPs aimed at those with ASD who can access a MS curriculum.

Fiction it is possible for the LA to cease to maintain in some circumstances, see the link to IPSEA I posted.

OP, be careful with SENDIASS. Some are brilliant, but too many are not and repeat the LA’s unlawful policies - you only have to read threads on here to see that. They receive LA funding so will ultimately toe the party line. IPSEA and SOSSEN are better.

Thanks @Imitatingdory - we were told up to 26 by the Lea but I suppose that's the same as the last being issued before the 25th birthday and lasting till the 26th? I agree with your point re evidence, although our council Ed psych refuse to name specific class sizes at the needs assessment (only said small classes, not a number).

Fiction, the LA can cease to maintain the EHCP when a young person turns 25. IPSEA link. Although, under s.46 CAFA 2014, in individual circumstances LAs do have the power to maintain the EHCP until the end of the academic year during which the young person is 25.

Sadly many LA reports are unlawful, i.e. not specified and quantified, you can ask the LA to go back to the report writers to make them so. It is part of the reason why parents often need to appeal and seek independent assessments.

Thank you again for the suggestions and advice. This has made me realise that I really need to start doing some proper research and will contact IPSEA / SOSSEN as suggested. Luckily there’s some time still for us to get our head around the system! Really appreciate your thoughtful insights @Imitatingdory and @fictionreader.

Good luck @Gekkouga