Special school for 13 year old with ASD and a spiky profile in South London ?

[Guacamole69]

Hello, I'm looking for recommendations for special schools in South London for my 13 yr old autistic son, who is not coping in his current mainstream setting (Charter ND) and the school have advised that he needs to be in a more specialist setting. We weren't able to visit any special schools during lockdown, which is why he ended up in a mainstream setting that we had least visited, and had said that they would be able to meet his needs. He's quite able - but he really struggles with emotional regulation, often ruminates and repeats himself and finds it very difficult to access the current curriculum. I think he's currently overwhelmed by all the demands from the school day. When we have taken him to other specialist schools to visit, he has become so anxious about leaving his current school, that he often just repeats himself and gets very angry there - this is often interpreted by the schools that he will be a handful, and they end up rejecting him. We have tried three special schools so far (Vanguard, Elm Court and Holmewood) with little success. I'm now getting very concerned now that he'll keep on getting rejected. Any suggestions would be really helpful. Many Thanks,

You could look at Wemms and the new Spring school. They aren’t in South London, but depending on exactly where you are Unsted Park or one of the Odyssey House sites may be within travelling distance.

Firstly I would suggest doing all your initial visits without out your son so he isn’t stressed by unsuitable placements. Have you looked at Riverston in Lee, Blossom House, (though they are often resistant to behavioural problems but I know they have pupils with behaviour problems). Rise school Feltham but probably too far. Or maybe see what’s in Kent. SOSSEN May have some ideas

Oh Roehampton gate is another.

Thanks so much for all your suggestions - I will contact them all. We're closer to East Dulwich/Herne Hill/Brixton area but I think we may need to look further afield too.

You can get the train from Herne Hill straight to st pancras which is right by Blossom House so not too much of an awful commute.

Check out the Cavendish group of schools too - many are good for spiky ASD kids

spiky profile I mean, not spiky like hedgehogs

I have feeling Blossom House Euston I’d primary. The secondary one I’d Wimbledon way.

@Mary19 nah euston goes up to 18 just its not been open long so still filling up in the secondary

Can I ask what you thought of elm court? I love the sound of Holmewood but my son sounds similar to yours and o think they’ll say no based on behaviour.

Probably too far out but there is a new school in Purley on the gostone Road.

I agree that Abingdon House School Purley could be a good fit for his profile if not too far. Just opened this September. I've heard good reports from parents.