Number with SEN support vs national average

[frost8bite]

Hi mumsnet

DS9 is finishing his autism assessments and will have a diagnosis soon. We are also looking to move house and I'm looking at schools in the new area. Which schools should I be targeting?

• 'pupils with SEN support' HIGHER than the national average

OR - 'pupils with SEN support' LOWER than the national average

This is all new to me; I appreciate thoughts

I don’t think it’s as straightforward as saying one way or the other.

A school with a lower than national average percentage may be excellent at SEN support but have a lower than average percentage because of the area it is situated in.

A school with a higher than national average percentage may be overwhelmed and stretched too thin to the provide all the support pupils require or may be quite rubbish at SEN support but have a higher than average percentage because of its intake.

Then again, one with a high percentage may be very experienced in managing a variety of needs and enable the pupils to make progress.

I think it’s important to get a feel for the school, look at the SEN department, look at the pastoral structure, subjects offered that your child may be particularly interested in, accessibility and distance.

It definitely depends on the school.

My DC's school has a higher than average percentage and on paper are a very inclusive school with many school-wide strategies in place.

In reality, because they are such an inclusive school (children who are non-verbal, fairly significant learning difficulties and otherwise DC who would benefit from specialist provision), it does unfortunately mean that those who are achieving academically and have no outward behavioural issues (but are otherwise masking) tend to go under the radar and are, to be frank, not a priority.

With my own DC, who has recently been diagnosed and despite having regular periods of refusing to go in (but is 'fine' once in), they tend to say the right things and promise lots, but it doesn't tend to materialise.

Thanks for the responses! I realise it's complicated

Mine will be one of the ones masking

Personally, we had a choice between selective state schools, selective independent schools, academy chain (SEN area empty on our tour, neighbours' kids leaving post GCSE due to lack of creative offer). And an inclusive comprehensive (which actually is inclusive and therefore has higher SEN support and EHCP than average, as word gets around).

I'm afraid I had to go to the lengths of teaching in some of the schools to determine which was genuinely inclusive!

Do as many visits as possible. Speak to other parents. You could ask about GCSE and A level outcomes for DC with SEN.

Thanks for responding @Phineyj
Great suggestions.
Which one did you go for?

The comp, as I work there.