State or private primary for SEN child?

[Worriedmotheroftwo]

My son is in Reception. He is diagnosed with ADHD and is possibly autistic too. He is lovely but struggling. He is in a private school, only made possibly because I teach in the same school (senior section) and get a massive staff discount on fees. The school is lovely (although not hugely experinced with SEN) and he loves it, plus theres only 12 kids in his class, but I can't help a niggling worry that I should have put him in the local state primary. Another teacher (from a different school) told me he'd get better SEN support in the state sector. Is this true? We're applying for an EHCP anyway but it will probably take a year or two if we even get it accepted. I thought state schools were woefully underfunded and that he'd struggle to cope in a class of 30, with much less individual attention, but am I reqlly ignorant about this? What are your thoughts? It's probably too late now, plus I wouldn't want to move him when he's so happy, but I can't stop wondering if I've made a huge mistake...

It depends on the independent school, some are supportive or SEN, many aren’t. Many of those who are charge for extra support.

Yes, this one does charge for extra support, eg 1:1 sessions with OT etc. But I'm not sure what the situation is in the state sector. Would they get that support for free in the state sector, even without an EHCP?

Without an EHCP, OT provision for a DC in state school would depend on what was offered on the NHS locally (which varies ICB to ICB).

The chances are (on average) that the staff would have more experience with SEN but in reality there would be little support because he'd be lower priority than DC with disregulated behaviour or lack of home backup. And that in itself could worsen his school experience.

I think you're doing the right thing.

One issue that may arise later is that your LA may place additional barriers in your way to getting the EHCP as they feel kids in private schools aren't their problem.

We are dealing with this as I try to get an EHCP for DD whom we are switching from private primary to state secondary (and we are doing this in large part because the SEN support is likely to be better there and she will have more peers with the same diagnoses). I work at the secondary so I should know!

Come over to my EHCP support thread if you like.

I have a DC with ADHD and severe dyslexia. Behaviour-wise, they are angelic at school (home is a different kettle of fish), but distracted and unfocused unless one of the few specialist areas of interest. Very high IQ and confident, but have never met academic potential.

DC has been in state sector since Reception - now in Y10, and in Outstanding schools for both primary and secondary. We looked at private in Y6 and DC's dyslexia was deemed to be beyond the scope of the school's ability to manage.

Help in the state sector that we have recieved:
Primary - Ed Psych sessions to do dyslexia diagnosis in Y3 and repeated in Y6. These were incredibly comprehensive and have been incredibly valuable over the years.
Three 20 minute sessions of Toe-by-Toe and a copy of the book.

Secondary - exam access assessments done.

That's it. Zero help or advice or anything. I've had to do everything myself to scaffold for DC. The best I can say is that both schools were supportive of my providing loads of tech, and they bear DC's ADHD and dyslexia in mind. But actual help... zilch.

@Phineyj if the LA didn’t use attending an independent school as an excuse they would have found something else to use as an unlawful excuse.

Oh for sure @KeepGoingThomas but it does complicate matters and it is fair to say that independent primaries often don't have a lot of interest in SEN. Although ours have been very helpful, if not particularly experienced.

Come over to my EHCP support thread if you like.

Thank you - I will do that. I appreciate it.