Schools for kids with average ability that struggle in mainstream

[TheIsleOfTheLost]

Do they exist? I am trying to find somewhere else for my kids to go as they are struggling hugely in mainstream. We can't afford to pay for 2 kids (or even 1!) to go to private school. Year 4 child is autistic, has dyspraxia and soon to be assessed for adhd. Year 1 child is awaiting autism assessment and lacks fine motor skills/muscle strength for things like writing.

The older one struggles more vocally, but they both say all the time how much they don't want to go to school. We have endless meltdowns, some school refusal, exaggerating pain and illnesses etc.

I am at my wit's end as the mainstream, 3 form entry, school is clearly overwhelming, but the two special schools near us are for children that are far behind academically and need help with speech, life skills etc. What do people do with kids that can't cope with mainstream and are neither above average or far below with academic level?

Since you mention SS I presume DC have EHCPs? There are SS who cater for academically average (and academically able) DC. Independent MS can also be funded via an EHCP.

@BlueBrick We have asked the school about an EHCP for ds1. Currently not getting any response, but have kept kn asking and have a meeting on Friday. From what I have heard, our council is pushing schools to avoid them for cost reasons, so we will be pushing equally hard the other way.

Haven't yet asked for ds2, but will on Friday. He is much quieter, so I think the school believe we are making a lot of his issues up. They don't see the explosion as soon as we leave the school gates, or him shouting the whole way there. When I asked them if he plays with other children they heartily agreed. When I pressed further it turned out to be that child C asked him what he was doing while they were both independently doing a similar activity and he replied. So not actually playing with child C at all then! As long as he isn't causing trouble they won't give extra resource, even though he can't write his name or blend sounds. He quietly resists anything he doesn't want to do!

You can request an EHCNA yourself. On their website, IPSEA has a model letter you can use.

While there are LA special schools in some areas that genuinely cater for average ability, and many more that will say they do, you may need to look at independent specialist schools to get what you are looking for. In which case you will need to get an EHCP, then in all likelihood appeal the contents and get private EP and possibly OT and SALT assessments to demonstrate that the needs can only be met in the school you choose. This will probably take a couple of years.

In the meantime if going to school really isn’t an option keep them off, citing anxiety, go to the GP to get it documented and then get on to the LA. They must, by law, provide an alternative education if attending school isn’t an option for at least 14 days, which don’t have to be consecutive. This could be tutors at home, for example.

It is as soon as it becomes clear 15 days will be missed rather than 14.

Sorry, yes I never remember whether it is 14 or 15!

@DiaphanousDrosophilia thank you that is really useful. Plus depressing! I have an employer who is more flexible than most, but that wouldn't extend to permanent home education. We have managed to get ds1's ABC assessment on the nhs and the autism and adhd assessments through work health cover. Ds2 is too young for work cover, so we need to either wait a couple of years, pay, or hope nhs choices thing see him sooner. Sounds like a lot more paying for stuff to come!

Provision made by the LA under section 19 of the Education Act 1996 is not elective home education. You can’t be compelled to home educate.