Residential School for ASD with additional MH needs?

[Bonhex]

My LA are telling me that they are now looking out of county to place my 15 year old DS.
We live in East Anglia.
Is anyone able to recommend somewhere lovely?
He's very bright but has been out of school for 2 years and needs small, quiet, safe.

Are you looking primarily for an ASD school or a SEMH school?

Have a look at some of the Priory schools, Aurora schools, Cavendish schools, NAS schools. All of them have some schools that can cater for more academically able pupils.

Also look at Breckenbrough, Alderwasley Hall and Swalcliffe Park. West Heath is a SEMH school, but many have co-morbid needs, depending on the level of MH needs it may be a possibility.

Thank you so much for those names.
We've had bad experiences with a couple of independent ASD only schools because of staff's lack of experience with his other conditions or because he's had no peer group. It's a difficult balancing act. Hopeful there's a place for him somewhere.
Thank you again.

West Heath is definitely worth considering then depending on the severity of DS’s MH needs. Another one to look at if you are looking for a SEMH school, but one with some pupils with ASD I have heard brilliant things about Cavendish’s Wilds Lodge. There is also St Edwards. Obviously I don’t know DS’s needs so neither may be worth a look.

In the meantime, you mention DS has been out of school for 2 years, are the LA providing alternative education and any other provision in section F? They should be.

Thank you - that's great, I'll have a good look. My son has Tourette's and OCD as well as anxiety problems. He always says it isn't the ASD that makes life hard, it's the other stuff.
I've also heard great things about Wilds Lodge. It could be a good fit for him.
He's getting 11 hours online one to one which is working well. Hoping to increase hours while we try to get a placement sorted out. Everything takes so long.

Is there not other provision in section F too e.g. therapies? There should be and the LA should be providing that provision too.

@Imitatingdory
No. The EHCP needs redoing and we've got a couple of new EP and OT reports to add in. The LA agreed to one hour of OT a fortnight which is frankly taking the piss.

They've been trying to push me down the "bespoke package" road for a while. This seems to mean a few online lessons and a trip to a care farm once a week. Absolute crap.
When I asked them about access to any kind of PE I was told that I would have to provide medical evidence that the exercise was therapeutic and even then it may have to be funded by the NHS.

SALT, OT and MH therapies should be included in section F, and therefore the LA are responsible for ensuring the provision is provided. Even if the NHS normally provide it, but for whatever reason can’t or won’t the LA must commission private providers.

Even if DS did have EOTAS, PE is part of the national curriculum therefore some form of exercise is a realistic educational provision. DS1 has EOTAS and he has exercise provision, and he isn’t the only one.

Section 61 CAFA 2014 says
“(1) A local authority in England may arrange for any special educational provision that it has decided is necessary for a child or young person for whom it is responsible to be made otherwise than in a school or post-16 institution or a place at which relevant early years education is provided.
(2) An authority may do so only if satisfied that it would be inappropriate for the provision to be made in a school or post-16 institution or at such a place.
(3) Before doing so, the authority must consult the child's parent or the young person.”

If it is not inappropriate EOTAS should not be provided, so if you find a school you would like even if you have to appeal for it you are likely to succeed if the LA’s alternative is EOTAS. Although Wilds Lodge and West Heath are wholly independent so you would need an offer from the school. You may find reading case law NN v Cheshire East Council (SEN) [2021] UKUT 220 (AAC) helpful to read.

Thanks @Imitatingdory that's very helpful. I'll definitely look into that case law. DS is identified as CME and has been for 2 years now. While I'm prepared to make some allowances because of Covid I'm really losing patience.
All of the schools you recommended looked very good btw. Wilds Lodge in particular.

Swalcliffe Park is brilliant. My son goes there and is very happy.