Secondary/post 11 ASD experiences

[Heartsandbirds]

DS has just been diagnosed with ASD. You wouldn’t guess initially if you met him, he’s very bright, confident and communicates well. He’s currently at a wonderful primary with a supportive SEN team and is thriving. I’d had doubts about our two local comps before the diagnosis and now they’re completely out. We live in a very (very!) rural area in Wales so our options are home ed, home ed with private tutors or a private school (about 45 minutes away). What are you experiences? DH and I are both self-employed and have the capacity to teach at secondary level, although we’d certainly employ tutors for GCSE and A Level. We also both have jobs where DS can come with us on days when he’d get something out of it. Our main concern is to keep him happy, confident and to help him find the path that works for him. I’m also ASD, (diagnosed at 42).

Does DS have an IDP? If so, and there isn’t a suitable school instead of EHE EOTAS would be a possibility.

@JustKeepBuilding thanks for your reply. I don’t think they’d agree that he needs EOATS as he’s just fine at his primary, but the primary has special recognition for supporting SEN (can’t remember exactly what it’s called) so we’ve been very lucky. There’s no doubt he could start at one of the local comps and he could certainly cope academically (he’s on the gifted side) but because of where we are one of the local schools has County Lines drug issues and the other is Welsh speaking. The EA would almost certainly want him to start at the English stream comp but he’s extraordinarily sensitive to bullying and it would destroy him in no time. I’m determined to preserve him from that.

And no, no IDP as the school suspected before I did back when he started that he was ASD and have been making adjustments as necessary since Reception. It’s a tiny rural school with very small classes and a good teaching ratio so they’ve been able to accommodate him. We did discuss it but they didn’t feel it was necessary.

I think you should relook at an IDP in preparation for the transition to secondary. Don’t just listen to the school or LA, they will tell you what they want you to know.

It might take an appeal, but if the secondary schools aren’t suitable it is possible to get EOTAS even if DS is academically able.

@JustKeepBuilding I didn’t know that, that’s invaluable, thank you. I will start on that.