Secondaries Essex / Cambridgeshire/ Suffolk border

[UsernameChange1675]

DS is currently in year 3 at mainstream primary with an EHCP and 30 hours funded TA support.

He has a diagnosis of ASD with likely associated learning difficulties, and social communication problems. He moves around a lot

He is doing really well, can read, probably still within 2 years of age related expectations, but not meeting expectations for year 3. His learning is mostly small group not in the class.
I really don't know where he should go for secondary.

I really doubt the catchment secondary would work, but imagine if we are not very proactive this is where he would go. Happy to move him earlier.

All the special schools seem full (Churchill, Gretton might be good but we haven't visited - really just thinking). We could probably afford the fees for a small, cheap private school (Landmark? Stoke?) but they might not want him.

Really ideas welcome. I just don't know.

Non-wholly independent special schools don’t get full in the same way as admission to a mainstream state school without an EHCP.
The LA must name your preference 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 is not defined in law, and on its own being ‘full’ 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, which is a higher bar than they admit. If the LA can’t prove one of the above, they can, and must, name the school regardless of the school’s objections.

You only need an offer of s place for a wholly independent school, e.g. Gretton.

Independent mainstreams can be funded via the EHCP if necessary. But you would need an offer of a place.

I would go and look at all the possibilities. Gretton and the independent mainstreams don’t suit everyone.

You could also look at The Cavendish School.

Thanks. This is all helpful. I am currently looking at the website for Polaris at Newmarket Academy which maybe looks about right for his profile. I think I need to go and look at a load of places just to understand a bit more

If DS is struggling to access learning in a mainstream classroom now, in Y3, I suspect an integrated base won’t work at secondary. I suspect the expectation to integrate with mainstream some of the time at Polaris will be too much for DS.

OK. That's helpful. Thanks.