South East London secondaries- mainstream or...?

[Macramepotholder]

DD is in year 5 and we're in the process of applying for an EHCP. She is autistic and dyspraxic- pretty bright (although she has processing issues, along with exec functioning challenges and motor skills issues). Zero social skills or abilities, but behaviour is good.

We have been very convinced she'll be OK in mainstream with significant support, but I'm also wondering where else we should check out. Somewhere like Limpsfield Grange isn't academically challenging enough I think (and although technically commutable a bit far really, we're Z3/4 borders). I know Tallis has an autism unit. I have no idea about indies or specials that are more academic- Lewisham, Bromley, Southwark & Lambeth are all possibles (I think Vanguard was supposed to fill this niche but the wheels seem to have come off there). Greenwich or Bexley maybe if there was transport, it's an awkward journey.

I'd prefer single sex but that might not be possible. Doesn't have to be specials, could just be mainstreams with really excellent provision. I have a comprehensive that seems inclusive in my sights but a couple of things the SENCO said put me off a bit. Has anyone had a good experience with a child with a similar profile in the area?

Hatcham College in SE14 (lewisham) is a mainstream comp with a good rep for supporting neurodiversity - my similar sounding child (no ehcp or diagnosis yet) will probably go. Deptford Green (lewisham) historically known as supportive as well although they have apparently being trying to shake this reputation. Prendergast school in SE4 (Lewisham) is an all-girls with an excellent reputation, girls are taught in the same class for the first year so fewer transitions, may be worth looking at (we are out of catchment but with EHCP you may get it). Also look at Sydenham school (all girls state) if that's closer to you.

I've heard mixed reports about Sydenham Girls for SEN support. I know Riverston is quite popular for a specialist that still offers some academics.

Addey & Stanhope is a mainstream I've heard good things about, but don't have personal experience. Bonus Pastor was recommended by the Senco at our primary school but was never an option.

If you can make Greenwich work, Eltham Hill has a good reputation for SEN support and is single sex.

You might find the autism units in mainstream are quite boy heavy so worth checking. John Roan also has an autism unit and Conisborough (although I know that one and it's not as academic as some).

I have friends with DC in several Greenwich secondaries. I know parents who are very happy with Eltham Hill (girls only) - however, none of the DC have SEN so I can't comment on that. Leigh Academy Blackheath is another popular choice. Although it's not girls only, it operates a 'small school' ethos where DC are taught in 'houses'. Again, I don't know what their SEN provision is. They've recently got an Ofsted Outstanding so it's becoming very hard to get a place. They also do a banding test. (I'm not sure how that works with an EHCP actually.)

John Roan is also becoming increasingly popular after a tricky few years. As the other poster says, it has a designated special provision for autism. I know parents who are happy with the school.

Tallis is known as 'the' school for DC with SEN in the area. Which is a bit of a double-edged sword. It has a huge number of DC with EHCPS and SEN - which has put a lot of pressure on them.

One of the things that is going to be key, regardless of where your DD goes is her EHCP. It's absolutely vital that Section F is detailed and quantified. Where are you with the process?

My DS has autism. He is in a mainstream secondary with 1 to 2 support. He is doing far better than I could have hoped for. Academically he is regarded as very able.
It's the non-lesson time that is probably the hardest time for him so it's definitely checking with any schools that you look at that she will be supported there. Or there's somewhere for her to go.

For special schools, you could look at Roehampton Gate. It is a marmite school and not as academic as some. Wemms is probably too far for you, but if not you could look at that, but again, parents love it or hate it. The Rise is probably also too far but worth checking. None are single sex though.

Again not single sex but I know parents with DC at the resource provision at the London Nautical secondary school. However I don’t know the academic profile of all their cohort.

Oh wow thank you - I need a spreadsheet! Quite a few there I hadn't heard of which we will check out when open days start.

Yes- it's Sydenham we are near and I've also heard mixed reports. Would be interested in any more detail on those! In general I really like the school but not so sure about the SEN provision. I think they do have a relationship with Drumbeat though and a proper library which is always open. Other advantages around a short journey/walk (and also think it will be a good fit for her non-SEN sister in a few years which isn't essential but would be loads easier).

We're appealing refusal to assess at the moment, pretty confident we'll get through that as the refusal was on unlawful grounds. But a way to go.

One of the reasons we're keen on girls is that she's utterly sick of disruption caused by boys (think we've been unlucky with classes, twice, but it makes a huge difference to her ability to focus) and I think that could (obviously not definitely) continue to be the case in a mixed resource base.

Hatcham and Eltham seem worth a look- any intel on The Norwood school? Or Ravensbourne in Bromley? We almost bought a house behind deptford green years ago, maybe we should have done it, I didn't realise the provision there was so good.

My Sydenham knowledge is all anecdotes from a couple of parents who didn't feel their daughters were well supported. I don't have a lot of detail I'm afraid and I'm not 100% sure it's the same SENCO now and that can always make a difference. It would be enough to make me want to really quiz them though and be sure of the support.

I feel like with most schools you have to do that to be honest. Schools are overstretched so unless you are working with them and making yourself heard it's easy to get missed.

You could also try Lavender Support Group for advice on schools. It's an autism support group for parents of girls. It's a bit more geared towards the Lambeth/Southwark and moving to the west areas of South London than Lewisham so could give you some insight to those areas.

If you think single sex would be best, behaviour is important and she's academically able, have you considered putting her in for the grammar test for Townley (Bexley) or Newstead (Bromley)?

As you will have 6 choices in October, it could be worth it as a back up.

You are unlikely to get the EHCP through before October if you're only at refuse to assess. We got the tribunal order to assess in early April of year 5 and it took until late August to get all the evidence through and the LA refused to issue early September. And that was with me hassling them repeatedly.

Hopefully you would get the EHCP before year 7. I think we going to just manage that, maybe.

Such a crap system. It shouldn't take 2 years and piles of paperwork!

Or even Dartford Girls' or Tonbridge Grammar.

Much depends on transport links of course, but people do it.

Lots of autistic girls hiding in plain sight at grammar schools. The boys' grammar in Tonbridge has an ASD resource base even.

Yes I'd be super surprised if it happened in time tbh but on the off chance...as you say maybe just by year 7.

I hadn't considered grammars- in general I dislike the grammar system and there's no way she would practice for the test anyway I think so it's likely to be stressful and unproductive.

You could try the free bit of Atom Learning and see if she gets on with it.

One of the funny things about SEN is you find yourself considering options you never would have.

It's a funny old world.

Just coming back to say thanks again for all these suggestions- am checking them out. Also thanks for the Lavender recommendations- we're members of CASPA but most of their activities are way down into Bromley and we're much closer to Lambeth and Lewisham so it looks great and a girl focused space.

(@Phineyj I showed her an 11+ paper and she was not impressed- I think she could manage the maths part fine but the comprehension is too much inference. Her reading age is off the charts but she chooses to read much younger material than she's capable of, I think because it's soothing and uncomplicated. It was a rather turgid Peter Ackroyd passage about the Thames Estuary...).

That doesn't sound too inspiring as a passage!

My DD also struggles with inference but is pretty good at non verbal reasoning (better than me, frankly).