South London 6th form or FE college for ASD

[ScentOfSawdust]

DD successfully masked autism for 15 years until she had a complete mental health breakdown at the start of the year. She'd been on track for good GCSEs and we thought A levels at her current school. That doesn't look like an option any more. She barely made it into school after January other than for the exams and only managed any revision with one to one support from us.

She thinks BTECs will be a much better fit for her than A levels. Her current school doesn't offer BTECs and she feels traumatised at the thought of going back there anyway. We are on course to get an EHCP, but probably not til mid/late September and need somewhere for her to go in two weeks. Arghhhh.

The course she likes the look of is done at Harris (East Dulwich girls), Shooters Hill 6th form and Southwark College. Does anyone know what these places are like at supporting SEN pupils? Or are there any other schools/colleges that people have had good SEN experiences with? Although I think her GCSE results will be a complete disaster, her progress up to last year shows she'd have no problem academically as long as she can get the support she needs to actually access the learning.

Is your DD enrolled somewhere now? I have a friend who's DD is at Shooter's Hill if it's still relevant.

We’re in the queue at Shooters Hill right now, but still haven’t made the final decision.

Where are you in the EHCP process? Have they agreed to issue? Do you have a draft? My concern for your DD is without (a good one) in place, she may well find college difficult to access.
Shooter's Hill has a high number of students with additional needs which means they may well struggle to support your DD without an EHCP. It sounds like your DD has had a really tough time and of course you want to ensure that her experience of college goes as smoothly as possible.

Also, an EHCP can take a DC up to 25 so there's more leeway for retakes if they're needed.

Have you spoken to the Sencos of the various colleges yet?

Also do you need to consider transport? Your DD may be entitled to transport, regardless of what the LA may say!

Thanks so much for the advice.

After visiting both we’ve gone with Southwark in the end. The SEND team there swept her up and were really proactive in making suggestions for ways to support her. She starts tomorrow so everything’s crossed...