Best location for SEMH Senior Schools/support for SEN kids.

[abimom]

Where are the best SEN schools for kids with social/emotional/behavioural issues? I have to relocate back to the UK, and I have a 12-year-old who cannot attend mainstream. I am flexible about where we live since I am starting over after a divorce.

Are you thinking state (including private providers predominately funded by Local Authority Placements) or private?

Are your kids issues of a level for an EHCP?

The UK has different systems in each of the individual countries, where will you be. You can search for schools here. However you will need an EHCP. The majority of independent special schools don’t require parents to self fund and when they do they aren’t cheap.

In order to suggest schools you will need to say more about DS’s needs.

My child will qualify for an EHCP. He is under the care of a psychiatrist and neuropsychologist, is medicated and displays ADHD and ASD attributes due to an acquired brain injury. He has the normal intellectual ability.

He has problems with his executive function causing impulsivity, concentration issues, social competence/skills struggles, impulsivity along with extreme anxiety. All of these are currently magnified due to puberty.

@abimom you are aware you will have to move back and then apply for an EHCP. The EHCP process is meant to take 20 weeks, but in many areas it is taking longer. Be warned just because you don't think your child will cope in a mainstream does not mean the LA will argue they can with support, particularly as your child has normal intellectual ability.

Are you ok to home school until you can get your EHCP in place (and possibly have to appeal)?

In terms of location:

• Nearer big cities/towns you are more likely to have more options in terms of SEN provision than say in a rural area where there may just be one special needs school.
• However many areas of the SE have a major problem with lack of spaces in special needs schools and also providing other services in EHCPs (such as things like physiotherapy)
• Have a look at Special Needs Jungle Website they recently did a survey on LA's that rejected the most EHCPs (maybe avoid them).

I agree with Coffee, just because you think DC will qualify for an EHCP doesn’t mean the LA will agree. Not every child under a psychiatrist & neuropsychologist and with ADHD/ASD will get an EHCP. And the process won’t be quick (20 weeks bar a few exceptions), especially if you have to appeal as many do potentially more than once. The current wait time for Tribunal is 11-12 months and ever growing.

However, I would advise against electively home educating. Once you move the LA will have a statutory duty to ensure DS receives a suitable, full time education, if you EHE you will relieve the LA of their duty. Being in a school will help you gather evidence of need for an EHCP and the school can apply for high needs top up funding if necessary while going through the EHCP process. And if MS isn’t suitable the LA must provide alternative provision, but you would have to fight for it and your definition of not suitable won’t be the same as the LA’s, and the legal threshold is probably somewhere in the middle.

Have a look at Wilds Lodge and some of the other schools in the Cavendish Trust (although some are autism schools rather than SEMH schools). Also St Edwards, and some Aspris (again some are ASD rather than SEMH), Aurora and Witherslack’s schools.

If DS has a diagnosis of ASD rather than just displaying traits also have a look at Breckenbrough, Alderwasley Hall school, some of NAS’s schools.

Thank you for all the advice. I will take a look at the suggested websites and schools. He has a long history of being unable to cope in school despite all the interventions. We have home-educated him in the past because he was considered a risk at school and some teachers refused to have him in their classroom (he copes at home). However, I cannot do that now because I have to work full-time.

Not an easy one to get but you may be able to argue EOTAS. It's where a child can attend no school, the the LA has to pay for home education as well. If you work then you can argue for a PA to assist you child in education while you are away from home. There are some good support groups on Facebook dedicated to EOTAS families and guide you through the process

Parents don’t have to be working for the LA to be required to fund someone to undertake and facilitate EOTAS, which doesn’t have to be home education, as parents cannot be compelled to facilitate DC’s education when they aren’t EHE.

If your LA will help, try freshstartineducation.co.uk - they help while a school place is found.

I had never heard of these people. Thank you, I will contact them.