Special schools near Worthing for clever ASC boy (13)

[Jadedheeps]

Hi all,
We’re near Worthing in West Sussex. My DS is in year 9 at a mainstream, with an EHCP for autism and anxiety but we’ve been told to look for new provision as they can’t cope with him. He finds the whole school experience completely overwhelming, has suffered a lot of bullying, and he has very challenging behaviours because of this including self harm. We’ve currently got him at home to keep him safe.

The problem I’m having is finding a special school that caters for kids with high needs but no learning difficulties, who can work at an age appropriate level in the right conditions. I want to find one that offers a “normal” amount of GCSEs and follows the national curriculum but these are few and far between. The only place I’ve found is Muntham House in Horsham and they’re full and not a Section 41 school. I know GCSEs aren’t everything but I’d at least like him to be somewhere he can make friends with similar boys. He has no self drive to learn anything that isn’t a special interest and won’t do homework so I don’t think an online school would work and his behaviour is extreme so a mainstream private school would be very unlikely to have him.

I really don’t want to leave it entirely up to the LA to name a setting so does anyone know of any other near-ish schools (within about 30-40 miles) that’d fit? Maintained or independent. The LA website is laughably rubbish.

Thank you ♥️

Muntham House School is a non-maintained special school. It isn’t independent, so s41 or not doesn’t apply. It is treated the same as a maintained/academy/etc. school and doesn’t require them to offer a place.

If it is your preferred school, the LA must name it unless the LA can prove:
-The setting is unsuitable for the age, ability, aptitude or special educational needs (“SEN”) of the child or young person; or
-The attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the provision of efficient education for others; or
-The attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the efficient use of resources.

Being full, which is not defined in law, is not enough of a reason to refuse to name your preference. The LA has to prove the school is so full admitting DS is incompatible. The bar is higher than many LAs and schools admit. If the LA can’t prove one of the above, the LA can, and must, name the school regardless of the school’s objections.

Depending on DS’s level of VCB, you could look at Farney Close. It doesn’t offer the academics a MS does, but neither does Muntham House, but it does offer a similar number of GCSEs to Muntham House.

If DS’s level of VCB isn’t that significant, you could look at Northease Manor. But that may not be suitable for DS’s level of SEMH needs/provision required.

If DS is unable to attend school, is alternative provision in place?

Thank you! Honestly, it’s such a minefield all this…I phoned Muntham House yesterday and they gave me the “ahhh sorry, we’re full, don’t bother” spiel. So that’s super helpful info to know thanks. I’ll look into the others you mentioned too 👍

He doesn’t currently have alternative provision in place, this week was the final straw moment with MS so I’ll need to sort that out with the LA next.

We are near you. Have you joined the local Reaching Families facebook page? I'd recommend asking on there too.

There are parents with children at almost every local special school and other independents etc too and with experience of alternative provision locally.

That's a great idea to ask other parents.

They can be a helpful source of ideas.

Schools and LAs will often tell parents they are ‘full’ when the LA and school know it isn’t as simple as that and the LA know they can’t prove the school is so full placing DC there is incompatible. It is partly why so many appeals are successful. So, if MH is your preference, you can pursue that.

On their website, IPSEA has a model letter you can use to request alternative provision. The LA should also be ensuring anything detailed, specified and quantified in F is provided.