Help I think I’ve made the wrong secondary school choice

[Cocteautriplet]

DS 2 starts a mainstream secondary school in September- he has asd, add and an EHCP cat D so pretty much full time support (although in reality he doesn’t get anywhere near that but that’s a thread in itself).

After visiting lots of local provisions I decided he’d be best off going to the same school as his big brother but with support. The school I’ve chosen is massive but seemed, on visiting, to have a very engaged SEN department and lots of facilities he will love like 3D printers / comic clubs / robotics suite etc. I thought the idea of going to the same school as his brother rather than a special school or an ARP would be helpful to him and keep his options open as at the time of making the application I know he’d struggle with some academic subjects (maths and science) but love things like geography and history of which he has wonderful encyclopaedic knowledge.

However I had a kind of exit meeting with the Senco and teacher on his primary school today and they put the fear of god into me (despite going along with my thinking before).

Now I fear I’ve made a terrible mistake and I’m setting him up to fail. His teacher made it clear he’s going to struggle at secondary and implied he would be better off in a special school. She said he really struggled with SATs to the point he was only able to focus on them for maybe 20 minutes before he had to leave the room and said other students she had taught similar to my son said they wished they had gone straight into special school from primary.

i don’t know what to do all the ARP spaces will have been snapped up and there isn’t a special school nearby that would really fit his needs I don’t think. He’s quite able and articulate, just not academically focussed and despite being in add meds he funds concentrating for prolonged periods a real issue.

my only hope is a local specialist autism school that is planned to open in 2024 but it’s a bit of an unknown only has 90 places and will be transferring existing students from a campus about 40 mins away so I’m worried I might not get in. I don’t know what to do I’m so cross with myself for cocking up! I wanted to give him the chance for a mainstream education but Ive overestimated him I think.

Have you spoken to the secondary school? Are they providing enhanced transition?

Other than what the primary school have said, what do you think? You weighed up all the options and decided this MS was best, has that reasoning changed or is it ‘just’ the uncertainty over what the primary school have said?

Don’t focus on the funding. Focus on what is detailed, specified and quantified in F. If full time 1:1 is detailed, specified and quantified it must be provided and can be enforced.

You are highly unlikely to get another school by September so I would look at DS being supported as well as he can be at the MS to start, whilst also looking at any suitable SS within travelling distance (1hr15 is generally considered the maximum for secondary). Places being full is not a good enough reason on its own to refuse admission. Alternatively if you are definitely set on needing a SS/ARP then request an early review, but the EHCP is unlikely to be amended by September.

Thank you for your kind reply!

Yes they are being wonderful- he’ll have an extra taster day this term and he’s also been offered a place on a three day summer school so he gets more familiar with school and hopefully will recognise a few faces when he starts. There are not many other children going from his year at school.

I think the primary school is the main source of concern but to be honest I have been having niggling doubts since I got the place confirmed before Christmas. I feel a big part of my decision was driven if I’m being honest by avoiding having three children in three different schools and the logistics involved in managing the school run. I have 3 year old top who is starting nursery nearby in September.

His next annual review will be in early new year so not too long I guess but enough of a taster to work out if he’s not in the right place.

I think you should push the secondary school to provide more transition support. To give you a comparison, when DS3 was he Y6 he visited weekly from March plus a summer school.

Don’t base a decision on transport, you can push for transport for DS.

Thank you for the good advice … had no idea I could request a more substantial transition period. I’m emailing the deputy head today so I’ll see what she says.