Help with Schooling - dyspraxia / SPD / dyscalculia / poor working memory

[SENHelpPleaseThanks]

I will try and keep it brief, but feeling totally lost and desperate. DD (10) hasnt got it easy - dyspraxia, dyscalculia, poor working memory, sensory processing issues, anxious. Was in mainstream state until end of Y4 but was not thriving - barely surviving. Moved her to a SEN friendly mainstream independent who said they’d take her but she’d need to repeat Y4, which she did Sept 24, they had access to all Reports on her diagnosis - gave great feedback on her in Oct and Dec - and today drop the bomb shell they don’t think they can meet her needs ongoing as they observe that she’s not retaining what she’s learning. I am terrified they’ll revoke her place. We are at draft EHCP stage but I am really scared - it’s taken us so long to settle her and huge financial outlay and now I fear the rug being pulled from under us, but more importantly, devestated that for such a lovely, willing, empathetic and kind kid, I hear a school that she loves saying they don’t want her.
i need some recommendations on schools that could support a profile like hers .. we never wanted her in a special school but maybe we won’t have a choice. At this stage I’m open to anywhere in the country …..!
hoping someone can offer this desperate mum some kind words and recommendations 🙏

Have you asked the current school if they could meet DD’s needs if she had more support via an EHCP?

While it is possible to move with an EHCP, it can be risky because the new LA will review the EHCP and potentially propose to cease to maintain or amend. You will have the right of appeal but it is something you should be aware of. There is also the possibility the new LA will reassess. With that in mind, it might be best to start looking for a school within travelling distance of where you are. If you post where you are, someone may have some ideas.

Some examples you could look at include Fairley House in Westminster, Egerton-Rothesay in Herts, Appleford in Wiltshire, Maple Hayes in Staffordshire and Bredon in Worcestershire (their address is Gloucestershire but they are in Worcs LA). Some are dyslexia specialist schools but sometimes admit DC with similar needs. There’s Birtley House in Kent but it would only be for a year which isn’t ideal, especially as you may yet have to appeal to SENDIST.

@StrivingForSleep thank you so much. We don’t even have the EHCP finalised yet - just the official draft… we’re actually 10 mins away from Egerton-Rothesay… do you know much about it ?
i am so confused from todays meeting, which just felt so different to all previous meetings we’ve had with the (new) school. I asked if they’d support if I went for an EHCP because I didn’t want to risk her place there - and they were 100% supportive … but it’s as if they’ve been “spooked” by it ?! I don’t know how to describe it better … but it was a pretty harrowing meeting, and feeling desperately sad for her.

I would ask the current school what has changed their opinion. It may not be the EHCP, it may be the developmental gap is widening as DD gets older. This can happen as the social, emotional and academic demands increase in late primary into secondary.

I don’t have personal experience of ER but I know a little about it from helping others.

If DD has more significant learning difficulties, depending on her specific needs, Alfiston might be worth a look.

@StrivingForSleep thank you. I will look at both. I think I’m in a tail spin because we were told at parents evening she was in line “middle of the road” vs offset peers, had a lovely report in December we felt really encouraged by, and as soon as the draft EHCP landed (which the school agreed wholeheartedly to support us on) - all of a sudden they claim her working memory is so bad she’s not retaining what they teach her. After having felt so supported - I’m now reflecting on what’s gone wrong … I don’t think she’s ever even had a single session with the SENCO despite that being discussed as something they do to support girls who need it … and she’s so happy there, I’m just really gutted for her that I’ve now had the warning signs her place is going to be revoked :(

It might be helpful for you to seek an independent ed psych assessment. It will be miles better than the LA report. The cognitive testing a good comprehensive EP assessment would include will help you understand DD’s profile better. It will also help if you have to appeal.

Thank you @StrivingForSleep - really appreciate your input … I needed someone to chat to about all this ! We have worked with a SEN expert since DD was 5… so we have private SLT, Ed Psych, OT - she had many years of weekly OT and had private tuition from Reception - Yr4 to try and keep up and embed learning. We moved her to the independent school in Sept 24 because they’re famed for their nurturing environment which she needs, and great SEN provision. They had full access to every Report we’d had on DD and offered her a place offset a year. They reassured us before Xmas they still believe they can meet her needs and she had a really “good” autumn Report. So their 180 has happened as they received the EHCP draft, now saying that they can no longer meet her needs … even though what id hoped to get with the EHCP was a personal budget so we can support her even more (paying school fees means we had to stop the 121 and OT). I think I’m most disappointed that we’ve worked so hard to settle her and build friendships, and she’s thriving socially for the first time … so them revoking her place just feels so cruel.

What does the EP think? What kind of profile does the cognitive testing show? It isn’t the be all and end-all, but alongside the wider context it would give you an indication whether (even a small nurturing independent) MS is going to work going forward.

I would request another meeting with the current school to try to explore specifically what has made them change their mind and why exactly they don’t feel able to meet DD’s needs.