Help find my son a new school provision

[Nicky2788]

Good morning all,
My son is 8 years old diagnosed with ASD and dyslexia and has SEMH. He has an EHCP in place and an up to date educational psychologist report. He is currently at an inclusion centre and is due to leave this year to start year 5 in September at a new placement. I am struggling to find any provisions that can either meet his need or have space. I have contacted SENDIASS and waiting a reply. Can anyone offer any other help please?

If you want suggestions, you are going to need to post where you are and explain a bit more about DS's needs (e.g. how does DS’s SEMH needs and autism present).

Thank you sorry not sure how I was meant to post. We are in Portsmouth and I’ll send a copy of the concerns raised by the Educational psychologist this year.

Was reported to still be developing cognitive flexibility. finds it difficult to manage
a change in routine when it involves something out of the ordinary without significant
preparation.
•Needs a high level of autonomy and to feel in control to feel safe and remain regulated.
He was described to find it difficult to manage situations where he must follow rules
set by others.
•Finds it difficult to tolerate other people not following rules. It was considered this may be
as He needs rule to feel safe whilst simultaneously needing to feel able to follow his
own agenda.
•Has an awareness of his needs and can become very frustrated by them.
•Has a fragile sense of self and a negative view of his academic skills. He can “shut
down” if his self-esteem is threatened (e.g., if he thinks he may fail).
•Can mask his difficulties in relation to learning and understanding of social situations. It
was added that the extent of His learning needs were perhaps masked by his
dysregulation at school when in the EYFS and KS1 with learning difficulties perhaps also
being a key trigger.
•Can insist he knows how to do something and refuse support even if he is not
experiencing success with it being thought that this is a strategy to protect his self-esteem.
•Finds it difficult to leave the house other than to attend school and visit his dad’s house,
but still prefers to be at home which is where he feels safest.
•Is not yet secure in early reading skills and presents with specific literacy difficulties (e.g.,
he is not secure in letter names or Phase 2 phonics)

Thank you x

If DS wouldn’t find the range of needs there too overwhelming, you could look at Undershaw if they would admit depending on the level of autonomy DS needs.

They would be longer than the recommended maximum travel time for primary, but epending on the level of autonomy DS needs when his other needs are met, you could look at More House and Unsted Park.

For schools that aren’t wholly independent, the school being ‘full’ is not enough of a reason to refuse to name your preference. For non-wholly independent schools, 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. The bar to do this is higher than LAs admit. Unless the school is wholly independent the LA can, and must, name the school regardless of the school’s objections unless the La can prove one of the above.

You only need an offer of a place if the school is independent.