Unsted Park School?

[Bubbleswithsqueak]

Does anyone have any experience with Unsted Park? Looking at this for 6th form for autistic teen with MH difficulties.

I found your post from a search as I’m also considering their 6th form for my own autistic teen with MH difficulties! So hard to find somewhere isn’t it?

It's ridiculous. There are so many autistic kids who are academically very able, but unable to cope in mainstream schools. And about 5 schools in the entire country where there is specialist provision but kids can do A-Levels. Where have you looked so far? We're trying for Rossendale and Gretton, but can't get a place - too full or the teen is too 'high risk'. Which is a whole other rant - teen is so high risk that a specialist school can't take them, but is just about to get their first CAMHS psych appointment - after 15 months on the waiting list.

I don’t have any personal experience of Unsted park, but have you also looked at Alderwasley Hall, Farleigh, West Kirby, Church Lawton? All of them offer some A levels although some are in conjunction with local sixth forms and the subjects are generally more limited than a MS sixth form and can vary depending on the year.

There’s also Breckenbrough if male. And West Heath and Boveridge if a SEMH setting is necessary - the latter has many autistic pupils. If you are local to it there is Chestnut Place, but it is a day school only.

West Kirby and Breckenbrough are NMSS, Boveridge is section 41 and Church Lawton is now a free school, so for those you wouldn’t need an offer of a place and being ‘full’ isn’t enough of a reason on its own to refuse to name it in the EHCP.

MH provision such as therapies should be in section F of the EHCP so you don’t need to sit on normal waiting lists for them.

Alderwasley isn't really academic enough - no A-levels. Farleigh has a devastatingly bad Ofsted (not that Ofsted are the be all and end all, but it's horrific!) And Church Lawton is a day school.
We are in the North, so the very far south ones (Boveridge) are just too far to be practical, even on residential.
But West Kirby looks promising! So thank you so much - their academic provision is better than I had thought on first glance. Does anyone have any experience of the school?

Alderwasley Hall do do A levels. Or at least they did up until the summer. I can’t 100% say they are this year.

Apologies I forgot Church Lawton was a day school.

Have you spoken to/visited Farleigh? Sometimes with independent SS the OFSTED report isn’t everything. Especially at the moment when independent SS are out of favour. There’s an MN’er whose DS attended until relatively recently and they were very happy there and it turned their life around.

Thank you for all the suggestions @Thatsnotmycar

@Bubbleswithsqueak I hadn't looked at anywhere when I responded earlier, I just started my search. I have contacted Unsted and they are currently full.

It is indeed ridiculous. The combination of autism, MH difficulties, ADHD and being highly academic makes it almost impossible. Feel free to DM me if you want to rant and commiserate.

I know you didn't say your son has ADHD btw but my daughter does, and it's an extra complication here.

@Arconia Unsted park is a section 41 independent therefore if it is your preference the LA can only refuse to name it if 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 DD is incompatible. The bar is higher than many schools and LAs would like you to believe. It is higher than an “adverse effect”, “impact on” or “prejudicial to”. The LA can, and must, name the school regardless of the school’s objections unless they can prove one of the above.

Thanks @Thatsnotmycar that's so helpful to know.

I've just had a look at the list of s41 schools on the government website (late night googling due to worry...) There's one or two I'm going to check out but they're on the list under the section of schools that have withdrawn from s41 status. But they are still only for students with an EHCP. So I'm unsure what that means in terms of an LA being able to refuse if it's my preference?

Thanks @Thatsnotmycar - the difference between what the LA are legally obliged to do, and what they actually do is so huge. It makes me want to weep on a daily basis. I am an educated middle class person, I work in education, we have resources and support, and I STILL can't navigate this shit. We've spent about £15k in the last year on mental health care (don't even get me started on CAMHS) and support trying to get the EHCP in place.
@Arconia DS is about to start the process of being assessed for ADHD(inattentive) next week - we have the first appointment with the CAMHS psychiatrist (15 months after the most urgent referral our GP has ever put through, and having had no contact at all from CAMHS since January).
The hardest thing seems to be getting a school to accept him. There is a history of self-harm - now much reduced - and DS would be a residential placement, so they don't want to take the risk...
And our SEN officer at the LA has just told us that appeals are now taking a year. So DS is completely fucked, because all the schools that do A-Levels only go up to 19, so if he doesn't start by Sept 23 he won't be able to complete A-Levels, but there's no way that the LA will fund residential without going to appeal, so there isn't time to get him in. I can see his life slipping away from him, and he is SO ready to go back to school and make progress, instead of being stuck in his bedroom, completely isolated.

@Bubbleswithsqueak LAs often do what they want unless forced to comply with the law. Unfortunately, DC whose parents know the system and can advocate for their DC get better support. It shouldn’t be that way but it is.

Now the EHCP is in place is the MH care in there? With all the therapies in F?

Appeals are taking around a year, but appeals for those not in education are prioritised, so if DS isn’t in education it won’t be quite that long. It doesn’t mean he won’t be able to do A levels. There are placements that cater for older young people (e.g. Alderwasley, Boveridge, West Heath, Farleigh) and if none are suitable there is EOTAS. I think Unsted Park do sometimes keep students until 20.

@Arconia If an independent SS is no longer a section 41 independent school it means it is wholly independent (with the exception of a couple that no are no longer open). That means you don’t have the right to request it and the exceptions to naming your preference I posted above don’t apply. You can still ask for it to be named. However, you need an offer of a place and to prove the LA’s proposed school(s) can’t meet DC’s needs &/or it isn’t unreasonable public expenditure.

Some independent special schools do allow parents to self fund, but it isn’t cheap!

@Bubbleswithsqueak Much of what you said applies to my daughter's situation too. The education options for children like ours is in such a sorry state of affairs.

@Thatsnotmycar Thanks again, I thought of much. West Heath was one of the schools I was thinking of that is no longer s41.

We have already had one battle with our LA and one - years ago. I'm gearing up for another...

Bubbleswithsqueak. i think we've talked before via PM. Ds is at one of the placements mentioned and that does go to 25. In fact when Ds started earlier in the year age 17, he was one of the youngest there and still is. Most students are older than him. So in theory there are opportunities to do A Levels for older young people.

We are a bit further on in the process. So I don't know if our experiences are useful.
What I will say is that if a placement sells themselves as SEMH, there is likely to be young people attending with behaviour that challenges. So could be noisy and unpredictable. Ds's placement has young people attend with violence, and there can be fair amount of verbal abuse too. It depends how a young person copes with others behaviours.
Ds's placement is primarily SEMH and we were told it was ideal for an autistic young person with severe anxiety, I'm not sure I agree with that. Although Ds has adjusted a little more to the environment now, but there are still issues.

My other observation is that A Levels are hard, especially for a young person with additional needs and mental health difficulties. DS is very able but A Levels are too much for him because of his poor MH. He absolutely has the academic ability but is not able to handle the pressure of the work or the independent study involved. Anything too much and he just shuts down and can't continue.
So he's currently doing courses that are more manageable for him, to see how he copes. The LA educational psychologist suggested that this was the best approach and that A Levels could be something for the future, if he wanted that. Not sure if he will or if the LA would be prepared to fund it after these courses.
Not trying to put you off A Levels at all. And for many young people with additional needs that's absolutely the right path to take. But Ds is a high achiever and he just couldn't manage them. For now he needs a very gentle approach to further education. Alongside therapeutic support. Otherwise I think we would be back to refusing to attend and complete burnout.

@Punxsutawney Thank you so much for this - I just went and checked my PM.

Our massive issue now seems to be that the specialist ASC schools don't want to know because of MH (history of self harm and SI - now much improved), and the SEMH schools have (as you say) a cohort with really significant behaviours, which is not appropriate for the anxiety.

I'm not too worried about A-Levels in terms of academics, independent study and pressure - DS has never had any issue with academic work, and doesn't put pressure on himself. I would love him to do a less academic course alongside that actually got him outside and doing something more physical/practical - he would struggle more with that!

I've just had an email from the LA - they are really playing dirty, and it's so hard to know what strategies to take. We've gone for an early annual review, and they are now saying that they want an NHS SALT assessment (which they refused to do when I requested it for EHCNA!), and they also want a new EP report (last one was done in June!). Obviously DS will go to the bottom of the waiting list for these, delaying everything by another 6 months.

It's so incredibly helpful to hear other people's experiences.

Are the LA doing a formal reassessment of needs? If so, there are statutory timescales. If they aren’t, ask them to in order to trigger the timescales.

There are a few SEMH schools such as West Heath who don’t admit pupils with VCB, but the nature of any SS, SEMH or ASD, means the behaviour is going to different to mainstream.

@Thatsnotmycar that's really helpful re the statutory timescales - thank you!! I imagine they will wiggle out of it somehow - I think it's probably time to get some lawyers on board.
DS will be fine to cope with other kids having struggles or meltdowns, especially younger kids. But a 24 yr old having a violent confrontation with a teacher is something different...

Unless money isn’t a problem I wouldn’t seek legal advice just yet. If you think you are going to need to appeal I would save the money for independent assessments.

Instead email the LA asking if they are formally conducting a reassessment of needs. If they reply no, ask them to. If they reply yes, remind them of the statutory timescales and request any specific assessments you want.

Bubbleswithsqueak, I absolutely didn't want to put you off an SEMH setting! Just wanted to share our experiences. I think some of the issues are individual to Ds's placement. We absolutely don't judge the young people for their behaviours but I'm not sure they are always handled well by staff. I feel like we weren't aware or informed enough of what it might be like. When we looked round and spoke in depth to the transitions manager we were told it was perfect for an anxious, autistic hyperviglilent young person.

But .....all that being said. Ds is attending and the more practical courses are right for him at the moment. I thought he would hate as he is academic and has massive sensory processing issues around touch, smell etc. But that part of the placement seems to be going okay.

We have told him that his journey is a little different and will maybe will take a little longer than his peers, that he was in mainstream school with. Does he have the ability to attend a great university, absolutely. Will he ever do that, I'm not sure. But having seen him so unhappy and mentally quite unwell for such a long time. I'd take him being happy (which he's still struggling with at the moment) over him reaching his academic potential anyday.

I totally understand the stress of it all. I hope you can find the right place. It's so difficult and exhausting supporting your child, looking for suitable placement and dealing with local authorities. At times it feels neverending.

@Bubbleswithsqueak is it Ok if I continue to post on here about my situation or would you prefer me to create my own thread? If you hadn't started this thread I'd have started my own about Unsted Park, and I think it's probably more useful that we share information ... and the excellent resource that is @Thatsnotmycar But completely understand if you'd prefer I do my own thread. In the meantime...

As it happens, Unsted Park have said no because of DD's recent self-harming and suicidal ideation.

Anyone have any thoughts on West Heath, please let me know either here or by PM.

The talk about VCB is interesting and also worrying. When DD self-harmed last month whilst weekly boarding, she was told she had to leave boarding immediately. She thought she was being kicked out of the school completely (she wasn't ) and got extremely anxious and distressed. She had an autistic meltdown that involved her shouting and swearing because she was trying to control things and change the outcome as she felt so out of control. Of course that anxiety-driven aggressive behaviour has the opposite effect. She also threatened people and hit me. That is all when having a meltdown and is not usual behaviour for her. She has lashed out at me and DH before when having a meltdown but not for nearly a year. As she got older, the incidences became much rarer but she did it instinctively as a toddler.

Does the above qualify as VCB?

As it happens, Unsted Park have said no because of DD's recent self-harming and suicidal ideation.

If you feel none of the exceptions apply Unsted Park is a s.41 independent so you could pursue the placement anyway as they can be named even if they object.

Depending on the level of risk West Heath may not admit, they only admit mild to moderate risk pupils not severe. It’s wholly independent so you need an offer of a place.

Yes, it would be classed as VCB. Yvonne Newbold has excellent resources for VCB.

Thanks. I did a search for VCB yesterday (never heard that term) and found her website.

So is shouting and swearing alone VCB out of interest?

If shouting and swearing in a way that verbally attacks, intimidates or insults then it can be.

This is the example Yvonne Newbold gives on her website
“VCB can present in many different ways. It can be physical attacks on parents, siblings and others that may include lashing punching, kicking, hitting, hair-pulling, biting, throwing things, using household items as weapons or missiles, intimidatory behaviour or language, insults and other verbal attacks. It also includes destruction of property and of the home.”

@Arconia Please do keep posting on here! And for anyone who is reading, please add your experiences of any residential special schools that cater for kids who are not necessarily struggling academically...

Thank you Bubbles

And thank you @Thatsnotmycar for the advice.

I feel very sad and down today. Her school have essentially illegally concluded her, and it all stemmed from her self-harming there. We're having an emergency EHCP review but it's not until next month.

Arconia If it is a state school the school cannot illegally exclude DD. Inform the school she will be attending as normal unless they formally exclude her. They must follow the statutory exclusion guidance. If it is a NMSS or independent school they don’t have to follow the statutory guidance but they must have an exclusion policy that is compliant with the Equality Act and they follow it.

In the meantime the LA must provide anything specified and quantified in section F under s.42 CAFA 2014, and if DD is still CSA a suitable full time education under s.19 of the Education Act 1996. If they aren’t email the LA’s Director of Children’s Services. If that doesn’t work email again threatening judicial review. Then if they still don’t provide anything contact SOSSEN for help with a pre-action letter.