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SEN

Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

Admissions criteria and process

1 reply

Westcoastlover · 06/12/2023 17:12

Hi I don't know whether I need to adjust/lower my expectations regarding the admissions process of my local independent non-selective school. There is space in my son's year but after initially sending them his Autism diagnosis and the EP report for a recent Needs Assessment, they have come back and said due to a significant level of pastoral need in the year group (year 9), they cannot also accommodate my son. The EP report detailed his high anxiety around mainstream secondaries but who knows what level of pastoral support he would need if this school was a good fit for him? He thrived throughout primary but struggled with secondary. Am I being unreasonable in expecting at least a conversation with the school before they make their decision, as surely reports are only one part-there is an actual person to whom these reports are about? Or do I need to accept that this is how it is with some schools and SEN? That your diagnosis and reports are all they are interested in? Thank you for any thoughts.

OP posts:
BlueBrick · 06/12/2023 20:20

Unfortunately, many independent schools are supportive of SEN. Less to do with diagnosis, more to do with the level of need and provision required. Although I would expect the school to at least speak to you either verbally or via email.

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