Secondary school for ASD girls

[Lifesatoot]

Hi,

we are looking for a nurturing, calm and flexible secondary environment for our undiagnosed SEN daughter. She has not attended primary for 18 months with EBSA so will require a lot of support. She has an EHCP.

Burlington House in Tooting rejected her application as they say they cannot meet her SEMH needs.

We will look into the base at Southfields Academy although kids tend to opt in rather than receive their teaching in the base so that probably won’t work. Imagine the picture will be similar at Burntwood.

She is too academic for Garratt Park.

Centre Academy in Battersea is possible although they didn’t respond to our request to look around…

Distance is an issue as she struggles to be more than 20 minutes from home but will consider all options.

Thanks!

Not having a diagnosis makes the search more difficult. If you had a diagnosis, there is Hopescourt, Roehampton Gate and The Rise which depending where between the schools you mention you live could be possible. They would be more than 20 mins travelling time though and the first is new, so a bit of an unknown of a longer period. How far off are you from DD having the autism assessment?

You could look at Wemms. Also, more than 20 mins travelling time and parents either love it or hate it, so it may not be for you.

Depending on the level DD is working at, you could look at Capella house. A bit more academic than GP, but wouldn’t be suitable for DD’s academic needs if she may/is able to achieve a range of GCSEs.

Chase Centre academy.

Thanks!
ASD pathway via Camhs says we ‘should’ get an assessment by March.
Never realised schools needed this otherwise we would have pursued right to choose which maybe be should anyway. Obviously diagnosis is helpful but assumed EHCP that points to SEMH etc would be enough…
Appreciate the suggestions we will do some more research into schools and have chased Centre Academy.

Provision in EHCPs is based on needs, but some autism specialist schools require a formal diagnosis. Whilst autistic DC often have SEMH needs in some form, most ASD SS wouldn’t admit a child whose primary need is SEMH.

Where are you in the EHCP process? Some schools are reluctant to allow visits before the LA has consulted. Or does DD already have an EHCP and you are looking for phase transfer?

Hi thanks

we have an EHCP with an EOTAS package.

we are visiting the park school Clapham tomorrow and they have a hybrid school which sounds interesting…

Are you sure a mainstream school is going to be able to provide the therapeutic support required? Especially if BH wouldn’t admit due to DD’s SEMH needs.

Nope!

BH didn’t signpost why they turned her down and did suggest speaking to their sister schools so it could be they want to keep focus on dyslexia rather than ASD which is fair enough.

Our feeling is that once she feels she is in a safe space with kids who might be going through similar experiences she will kick on but finding a place that will be happy to have her is going to be a challenge…

Ah, your OP said BH rejected DD because of her SEMH needs. BH do like to focus on SpLD. If it was Holmewood they suggested, they like a diagnosis and it will probably be too far, but if Holmewood is not too far, look at Orange Tree School, which isn’t far from Holmewood.

Hi - we assumed BH were making a decision based on SEMH but in a new development they have asked us in to meet the head with our daughter after we sent a follow up email so we are very pleased. It might be wrong for our daughter and vice versa but she has to see it first hand and they have to meet her to know.

Also visited Clapham Park school and the Mayfair Hybrid school today and both were very impressive and inspiring.

@Lifesatoot how did you get them to reconsider? I really want to try a follow up email to see if we can get them to have another think and I don't want to mess it up! Any help welcomed 🙏

Hi - turns out that the admissions person from Clapham park virtual school used to work with the head so she put in a word for us after I met her at their open day which was really kind. This made them reconsider. Unfortunately for us she wasn’t able to handle the idea of taster sessions and would need more support than they could offer at this stage. We are also looking at Centre Academy and Canbury who have open days coming up… have you been turned down by BH?

Yes, BH have said can't meet needs. Canbury might be an option - it wouldn't be the best journey but manageable.

Annoying re BH - did they provide any detail? I Agree re Canbury - its not very close to us either and no idea how we would manage the travelling but haven’t heard anything negative about Canbury at all so feel we definitely have to check it out. Centre academy would be perfect for us travel wise but can’t see them being able to access it due to busy location and lack of green outdoor space…

Yes, they said that she'd need more support than they can offer - I'm hoping they at least meet her if we get a letter from her current school. Trying to find somewhere suitable for a child with high academic potential but also complex needs is like trying to find a needle in a haystack! We're looking at Odyssey too - too far away for you?

Have you tried London Park School Hybrid? The school is a bit iffy but the head of hybrid is fabulous there.

I hadn't heard of that one - I'll have a look, thanks!

We visited Clapham Park and the hybrid school at Mayfair - very impressed but felt like 4 days online and 1 day in class in Mayfair wouldn’t be quite right for us. Would not rule out though. Just visited Canbury and loved it. Felt like best of the schools we’ve seen in terms of friendly, relaxed atmosphere balanced with a focus on academics with a flexible approach. More girls than boys in current Y7 which was a big tick for us… they also work with parents on tribunals if they think the school is a good fit but the LA don’t…

That sounds really positive @Lifesatoot - we've got a coffee morning visit in June booked in. Did you take DD with you or was it just parents?

Miles too far away for us sadly (and I think probably for you) but the Cavendish Trust are opening a new ASD specific school (Leith Hill) in Surrey which looks idyllic. If it was nearer it would be perfect.

Just me and other parents - although kids were welcome. I’ll have to look up the new place as sounds intriguing but sadly would be too far…

Hi there,

I have read this thread with interest. Currently looking for a secondary school. Our son has an EHCP with ASD and dyslexia diagnosis. He is quite independent very sociable and has medium adjustments in school, but where he struggles is with attention and learning mainly, so we are looking for a smaller school that has smaller and more individualised support with a potentially flexible approach to curriculum and mixed paths( options to GCSEs but other alternatives as well).

We have visited Highshore in Camberwell, and not for him ( although presented as mixed needs is focused on more severe needs), and Riverton. I have read some of the options above and I am wondering whether anyone has any updated feedback for the above options? We are visiting Burlington House and also considering now London Park School in Clapham. Both of them within manageable distance.

Would be most grateful for any feedback.

@YourOpalDreamer have you considered Canbury? Technically mainstream but not your typical mainstream.

You could also look at Odyssey House and if it is doable travel wise, The Rise.

It is probably too far for daily travel, but you could consider More House for residential if that would work.

Thanks @BrightYellowTrain . I think these are West/South West London, right? We are in South East London, so Clapham and Tooting options seemed suitable location-wise. In any case will build options list an look to all of them.

Many thanks.

Marta

@YourOpalDreamer yes, they are further west than Clapham and Tooting. It depends on DS’s level of need, but in SE London, there is Brown’s.

We ended up squeezing two visits with daughter to Canbury and have been really impressed with their offering. Staff have been lovely, understanding and very flexible with a very anxious girl. She even managed to do their assessment on a third visit and ended up getting an offer last week. She is very proud of herself but whether the LA will fund her place is another question… We also liked BH and Clapham Park but neither would have been right for her on reflection so we are very pleased we didn’t discount Canbury due to distance…

@RavenLaw how did things go in the end ? Did you manage to get BH to reconsider.

We did get them to reconsider @Laladipsypo but sadly still a no.