Suitable SEN schools Cheshire??

[Warringtonfamily]

Hi. We have our draft EHCP plan, long story short our 8 year old boy has ADHD and will be tested for ASD now also. He can’t stay in mainstream school as he had to do half days last year (they couldn’t cope as he was constantly out of class) but is back to full days now. He is clever in Maths, slightly behind in English because he has missed half a year but is quite defiant in putting pen to paper (now the assistant writes for him just to get ideas down). When he is taught something he picks it up straight away when engaged but won’t learn sat behind a desk in front of a board it’s just not engaging for him.

Now that we need to name an independent school we like the look of one school that might meet his needs (yet to visit) but a lot of independent provisions seen too far the other way with special needs. He will require small class sizes of 6, his own teaching assistant and alternative ways of learning.

Any suggestions for independent specialist schools that support child with ADHD/Autism but high functioning circa 20 of Warrington.

Also what’s the Grange or Cransley like with SEND? Wouldn’t want him to attend a private school to have go through this again prior to secondary if he doesn’t fit in. The point on his EHCP is he needs a provision to take him through to 16-18 so he doesn’t have change. The environment he needs will need to be a flexible learning environment not rigid like his mainstream school but one which will give him opportunities to excel in studies and not be taken on days trips to McDonald’s etc.

Thanks

Independent mainstreams are unlikely to work if DS needs 1:1 in a maximum class of 6 with alternative ways of working, no matter how inclusive and supportive they are.

Just so you are aware, being placed in a setting now does not guarantee the LA will name that placement at the phase transfer to secondary (or the post 16 phase transfer if the setting continues post 16). You would be able to appeal, but it is something you should be aware of.

You should also be aware the maximum recommended travel time for primary is typically considered 45mins (although many travel further). If DS is unable to travel that far, you should ensure you have evidence. Otherwise, a school further than 20 mins away may well be named.

I am not aware of any independent SS within 20 mins of Warrington who offer a full range of academics to the level mainstreams do. I don’t know what their class sizes are like at the moment, but you could look at the non-maintained school, Chaigeley. Although it doesn’t offer the range of academics a mainstream does, it offers more than some of the local SS. It is further away than your 20 mins, no longer independent and an autism specialist school, but depending on where you are in Warrington, Church Lawton might be doable.

Thank you for the reply I wasn’t aware of the phase transfer to secondary isn’t guaranteed I know the plan is reviewed each year though.

Sorry i meant 20 miles, that’s actually good to hear about the 45 mins as we were concerned then one we like is about 25 mins away thinking we might be told it be would too long.

With regard to the private school (The Grange) I think being honest knowing how clever he is the environment would be even worse and ridged than his high performing state primary, it’s the environment that’s the issue as he learns (through play/short lessons/games and movement) and I guess any issues we had from disruptive behaviour/impulsiveness would be amplified in a private school.

I have looked at the Chaigeley and it’s not the type of school we are after. We are South Warrington.

Thank you for the reply, we have 15 days to go through and amend the draft EHCP and also the council have asked for our preferred schools. However we were told we can took around them until we had at least the draft, so it’s going to be a busy week or so, but then maybe not as I can’t see any suitable Provisions to short list.

Ah, 25 mins is fine.

You can request longer than 15 days if you need it.

Thanks I wasn’t aware we could request longer than 15 days if we need it.

LAs often don’t tell parents. Often LAs like to present it as a maximum of 15 days when the Regs say they must give you at least 15 days, so it is fine to ask for more time if you need it.

I can see this thread is a little old but can I ask of you were told you could request an independent school or is that just your preference? Currently we are also going through an EHCP process. I can also massively recommend Cransley butbtye class sizes go to about 17.

You don’t have the right to request a school that is wholly independent, but you can ask for it.