Does a school exist for gentle natured high functioning ASD child?

[Saltnpeppertofu]

Hi

I am struggling massively to find a suitable school in the Bucks, Herts, Beds, Oxford and , Northants areas.
My children have very high functioning ASD. They were at a private independent but unable to cope with noise level and rigidity of school. They were then placed in a school that was very violent and had kids mainly from care system/ neglect and sexualised behaviour which my children were unable to cope with. Alternative schools seem to have either no/low academic side or have a number of students with aggressive/volatile behaviours.

Are there any schools apart from Limpsfield in Surrey that provide, small class size, pupils with high asd/asperger and non aggressive tendencies?
Children have been out of school for almost a year now and the local Authority are unable to help! it is crazy!!
The children want to go to school and I need to get back to work, I am a single parent and massively struggling. Please can anyone recommend any schools....I am willing to move.

Children have been out of school for almost a year now and the local Authority are unable to help!

The LA is lying to you. Have you requested early reviews of their EHCPs? If there isn’t a suitable school have you looked at EOTAS? In the meantime the LA must provide any provision detailed, specified and quantified in F and, if DC are CSA, a suitable, full-time education.

Be aware if you move LA the new LA will review the EHCPs and potentially amend, reassess or even cease to maintain. You would be able to appeal, but you need to be aware it is a possibility.

Not in the areas you listed but you could look at: Alderwasley hall in Derbyshire, Unsted Park in Surrey, West Kirby on the Wirral. Holmewood in Barnet. In the same group as Holmewood is Gretton in. Cambridgeshire, but this has a more mixed reputation. If either DC is male, also look at Breckenbrough in N. Yorkshire and More House in Surrey.

Thanks, I will have a look at the schools.

Yes I have EOTAS in place as a temporary measure. Can't review plan as final one not yet been issued..tribunal in few weeks so can name a school. Currebtly on WDv11 and final one which both I and the LA are agreed on. I know there is the risk of a new LA to cease or reassess if we move but I no longer have a choice since there are no more schools to try in in Bucks areas. I am exhausted with it all. Over 30 schools say can't meet need.
I think with amount of evidence I have of school and our home situation, a new LA will lose any fight against it although it cpuld go back to tribunal again :-(

Have you thought about ongoing EOTAS rather than just as a temporary measure until tribunal?

When you say over 30 schools say they can’t meet needs, what do you think, do you think that’s true? If you think they can meet needs, unless the schools are wholly independent you can request them anyway. You don’t need the school to offer a place.

I need to go back to work and so can't continue with Eotas. I have a 2nd child at home with same needs waiting on final ehcp.
I do agree with schools reasons so far for declining as almost all have said class size too big, not a good enpugh academic offering and children there wirh more complex and or violent tendencies. If wasn't so able, there would be plenty of schools. The children love to learn and have said they do want to go to school if can find the right place.
I am truly between a rock and hard place

DC can still have EOTAS even if you work full-time. The LA is responsible for EOTAS. Parents cannot be compelled to deliver, facilitate or organise any of the package.

If there is a school that meets needs other than academically, you could look at the school plus tuition (either in school or otherwise).

Yea there is. Have a look at Potterspury Lodge. It’s in Towcester and has been amazing for my son.
its a therapeutic ASD school. It’s had some negative reviews over the years but has never let my sone down.

And I hear your pain, same experience for another child of mine. He sounds like yours and I am trying to get him placed there now

@SearchingForSolitude how does that work then , the EOTAS with full time work? Does the LA provide an Ofsted person to come and sit with children and get them onto their lessons? my children aren't able to organise themselves at all well. If there was a way, I would consider it for a year, but then children really want to go to school.

I’m not sure what you mean by “an Ofsted person”? OFSTED doesn’t deliver EOTAS packages.

EOTAS packages are completely bespoke. They can be whatever is suitable to a child’s individual needs. It doesn’t have to be at home at all. For example, it could involve day(s) at an AP (or more than one AP) or take place at a library/community centre/rented office space/church hall/children’s centre or in the community… Or if home is the only suitable place for some or all of the package there can be funding for a HLTA/TA/LSA/mentor on top of the tutors/therapists etc. so there are 2 adults present. It also doesn’t have to be traditional lessons either if that isn’t suitable. It would also be a very poor EOTAS package if all it involved was tuition (either F2F or online).

@mummy1970abc Thanks. It was Potterspury that my child was placed with, but unfortunately wasn't at all suitable. There was a lot of violence which terrified my child and very little learning. I witnessed one climbing up on the school roof whilst being pelted with stones from other children whilst staff looked on. When I asked them about it, they just said the child is dysregulated and will come down when they feel better...I was horrified. He could have fallen at any moment and they didn't stop children throwing the stones at him, It was very surreal. There was rather a lot of red flags for us. I know over 50% of staff were new but they didn't read my child's EHCP and so set off many triggers which could have avoided. The teacher took a wobble cushion and fidget toy away with no explanation and allowed children to swing on rope swing as high as the crossbar despite a teacher breaking his ankle on it just a few days prior. Children were left unsupervised at breaks which was a concern for me personally.
I was so shocked at the things I saw there.
The school is obviously working for some children, but at 93k per year, I felt provision was wholly lacking compared to other independent and state schools. That cost was without OT and Speech therapy too, all of that was on top! There is someone there definitely making a whole lot of cash from the LA. It was such a fight to get in there as well , so was gutted to have to pull my child out but the safeguarding concerns were huge.
There seems to be such a gap in schools for children that can attain academically but need a small, calm and nurturing environment. It's mad. Good luck with your son, everything is such a battle, but if you already have one child there, the LA are more likely to allow a 2nd child there (according to Potterspury)

I am really shocked. Thank you for your feedback. Taking stock here.

Have you looked at Hillingdon Manor or Queensmead in Windsor? What year is your son in?
we went to look at Queensmead, I felt it looked very glam in the entrance and then totally dishevelled in the rest of the school.
my son has just been pulled from pride academy for being beaten 3 times.
my son sounds like yours.

Based on the OP Queensmead House is unlikely to be suitable.

Cambian has a very mixed reputation, with some significant safeguarding concerns. Some seem happy there. Personally, I wouldn’t touch their schools with a barge pole.

@Aghhh124356 yes, they wrote to LA to say can't meet need. I had heard some quite good reviews too

@mummy1970abc thank you. I haven't looked at Hillingdon Manor so will definitely take a look.

There's a newly opened up school in Bloomsbury called Odyssey House which is just what you're describing. They have another one in Woking. Might be worth checking out?

@AngelinaJolie21 thank you. Odyssey looks great, unfortunately though Central London and Wokingham is just too far out of Bucks to travel to. I looked at the routes. Such a shame.