Seeking Autism-Friendly Boroughs/LAs in or near London

[Ella2024]

Hey everyone!

I’m super excited (and a bit nervous!) because we’re moving to the UK this month. 😊 We’re on the lookout for a place that’s welcoming and understanding for my sweet 5-year-old girl, who’s non-verbal. Since we’re new to the UK and we’re still on our journey to getting an autism diagnosis here, I’m really hoping to find a community that’s rich in support, especially in terms of SEN programs, therapy options, and fun activities that are inclusive for all kiddos.

Do any of you have recommendations for friendly boroughs or LAs around London where we can find great support for autism, particularly for little ones in their early and primary school years? Also, if you have any tips on how to navigate the whole diagnosis and support scene here, I’d be so grateful.

Big thanks in advance for your help and for sharing any advice or experiences you have. It means the world to us as we start this new chapter!

E

The referral process for an ASD assessment varies area to area. Depending on where you move to you may be able to self refer. If not you will need to speak to the school or GP. Alongside this you can look at a referral to SALT. Again, you may be able to self refer, but if not the school or GP will be able to.

In England, support in school is based on needs not diagnosis. Speaking to the potential schools’ SENCOs is a good idea. DD is likely to need an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). A legal document setting out a child’s needs and the support required. You can request an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) which is an assessment of a child’s needs you first request as part of the EHCP process. You can request an EHCNA from the local authority (LA) you live in once you move. IPSEA and SOSSEN are charities who support parents and have lots of information about the SEN system in England on their websites.

If you think a specialist school will be necessary, I would start by looking at those to make sure there is a suitable one within travelling distance. Unfortunately, the SEN system is broken whatever LA you live in, but some e.g. Kent are worse and if you can choose anywhere to live I would avoid.

I live in London and have a DS with autism. I'm sorry to say that all local authorities across the UK are really struggling financially and the SEN support and funding system is pretty much broken everywhere.

That's not to say there aren't good schools doing amazing work - there are.

In order to legally secure support for your DD, you will need something called an EHCP.

This is some general information about them:

www.ipsea.org.uk/pages/category/education-health-and-care-plans

I'm also sorry to say that the wait times for an autism assessment in my LA is two to three years. I think for speech and language support it's at least a year.

However, support at school is legally based on need not diagnosis - as is an EHCP, so you won't have to wait to apply.

As your DD is 5 already, depending on when she's born, you will be looking for either a place in reception class or in Yr1. As you're joining mid-year and she doesn't have an EHCP, it will be a case of ringing up the local authority to find out which schools have places. The local authority only have a statutory duty to find her a place in any school where there's space.

I live in an inner London borough and primary school numbers are actually falling quite fast so you may get lucky.

Every school has a person called a SENCO (this is the special needs education co-ordinator). It will be vital that you speak to this person once your DD is allocated a school place and meet with them to outline your DD's needs before she starts.

If your DD has an EHCP, the way you select a school is completely different.

It would be worth looking at mainstream schools with units attached that support DC with autism. My DS is one of them and it's working really well for him. Each unit is run on different lines though.

There are also specialist schools some run by local authorities, some private/independent.

It's possible to get all sorts of educational settings and therapies named in a good EHCP - that way the local authority will be legally and financially responsible for delivering it.

It's a lot to take in I know!

I don't mean to be negative. My DS is 14 now and is doing far better in school than I could have ever hoped for. This is definitely because he has an EHCP and is in a setting that ‘gets’ him and he has full-time 1 to 2 support.

Do post again if you have any specific questions about the diagnostic or EHCP process as there are some helpful, knowledgeable people on this board.

I don't know if it's a general thing or if my friend just got lucky, but she got good support from Wimbledon/Merton (not quite sure which LA that is, but SW London). At least, she secured help in school and an EHCP fairly quickly, although she had to get the ASD diagnosis privately through BUPA.