Recommendations for specialist UK primary schools

[Mamma3556]

I could really use some advice on starting school in the UK for my autistic 5yo. I have a wish list of what I want but I don't think I'm going to find it.

We've been living abroad and are due to come home in the summer. Our kid's challenges are such that we have not really considered a typical school for him. Currently he is in a specialist pre-school that is gentle, very play based, flexible to his needs, one-to-one OT/ST, and is three half days a week which he adjusted to pretty quickly and seems to be happy - it's not perfect but the teachers are good.

I'm not that keen on him going to full time yet and he's definitely not ready for a typical school - he needs one-to-one support and his teachers say it's a good day when he can sit with an activity for a couple of minutes to give an example.

We're starting to look at options in the UK like specialist private schools but I'm a bit clueless on where to start. Is he required to be enrolled somewhere, otherwise we need to register him as homeschooled? Does he need an NHS diagnosis to get an EHCP?

Are waiting lists expected? Have we left it too late for this September?

Are shorter week, half days possible? I'd love one that has a lot of outdoor time scheduled.

Is one-to-one support and OT/ST likely at a private school? Will we able to avoid ABA or similar? When we looked at fees we saw it was an eye-watering 18k a year - it will swallow one of our salaries - is that the going rate?

Ideally a school would be close to the city I work in the South, but I could potentially work anywhere. So we'd be willing to live almost anywhere for the right school, all the way up to Scotland where we also have family.

So I'm asking for specific school recommendations and also general specialist school advice or a pointer to other groups where I can ask these questions if this isn't the right place.

Thank you so much!

In England (Scotland, Wales and NI have different systems) many special schools, even independent ones, require DC to have an EHCP in England. You don’t need an NHS diagnosis, or a diagnosis at all, to get an EHCP. EHCPs are governed by statutory timescales, the process takes 20 weeks unless you have to appeal, which sadly many do. You would need to be moving now to have any hope of having a finalised EHCP for September. IPSEA and SOSSEN are good sources of information.

You can search for schools here. If you wish to EHE you don’t need to register with anyone, but if you electively home educate the LA are relieved of their duties. 1:1 in any special school isn’t as common as it is in mainstream, but it is possible for it to be in the EHCP if it is necessary. You would need evidence it is required. OT and SALT are both possible, again evidence is needed. ABA isn’t common in English SS. 18K for an independent special school is very low. Their fees are usually much higher, but if the school is named in an EHCP the LA fund the place.

With an EHCP you can name your preferred placement and unless the school is wholly independent (not all independent special schools are wholly independent, some are section 41 independents) the LA must name it unless they can prove:

• The setting is unsuitable for the age, ability, aptitude or special educational needs (“SEN”) of the child or young person; or
• The attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the provision of efficient education for others; or
• The attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the efficient use of resources.

Being full is not defined in law, and on its own being ‘full’ is not enough of a reason to refuse to name your preference. The LA has to prove the school is so full admitting DS is incompatible which is a high bar. If a school is named in the EHCP they must admit. So, there’s not waiting lists as such, although some LAs will try to tell you there is.

If the school you want is wholly independent you need an offer of a place and to prove the LA’s proposed school(s) cannot meet DC’s needs or it is not incompatible with the efficient use of resources.

Unless it is stated in the EHCP special schools are unlikely to agree to flexischooling or a part time place. Unless it is in the EHCP flexischooling is at the school’s discretion and often they aren’t keen on it. A part time school place (which isn’t the same thing as flexischooling) again is unlikely to happen without it being written into the EHCP because long term part time timetables are unlawful, the LA have a duty to provide a suitable, full time education.