Choosing school - How?? - school consultant?

[Tikeahulilly]

Hi,

Every post i make no matter how basic, has always been met with helpful views.

So here is my next question(s) & thanks in advance

1. if we are looking for a school for our son : high functioning / cognitively able to keep up with cirruculum etc but with (potential - assesment 25 april) autism and adhd - needs direct and indirect therapy / sensory needs etc how do we start whittling down? I can discount some specialist settings from the description but how do I know i have all for completness? And outwith the LA what else is out there? Eg) we live right on the London Surrey border in Kingston LA so potentially have other options.

2. what about cohort? He is socially motivated and as in said cognitively able - are there any specifics I should look out for in prospectus or ask when I call?

3. Anyone used this service and know about cost? An initial phone call is £190 and doesn't seem to cover what we would need as these seem to come under "package" with no £

Bernadette John – Specialist Schools Consultant www.schoolsadviceservice.co.uk

Quick overview:

We have submitted a parental needs assesment request to the LA complete with private OT, SALT, Pead assesments.

We have engaged a solicitor who we will instruct when needed (if refused / review wording of ehcp if granted)

He believes with the reports, the professionals we engaged and his LA knowledge th NA should be granted (however have heard more are being refused to delay - different thread though!)

Hence bringing me to think about the actual school setting needed and how to go about it so can begin to look etc

Thanks again all

Personally, I wouldn’t use a consultant like that.

You can search for schools here. This has all registered school. You can search by LA. Then filter by special school (and further by type of special school - e.g. you can filter for independent special schools). Don’t filter by phase of education because for some special schools this isn’t listed so it missed them out. I wouldn’t filter by type of need either because this information can also be incomplete for some schools.

Some people find making a spreadsheet helpful. Start with the schools in your LA then work outwards until you get to 45mins if primary age/1hr15 if secondary age travel time (although some do travel further I would start with those within that time).

How old is DS? If you post that, suggestions may be posted on here.

Thanks v much for that. I'll have a look. That's what I was essentially looking for a golden source to start from. No issue doing the spreadsheet and legwork so to speak.

Thanks.

He is 7 and in Y3
As i said Kingston LA and on surrey border

How is he in school now? Will a mainstream school be able to meet his needs with adequate support and a good EHCP? Or do you feel he definitely needs a specialist school?

You could look at The Rise if DS gets an ASD diagnosis. Chelsea Hall school is worth speaking to. It is generally very well thought of, but they may not have a peer group working at the same level.

Depending on how DS’s needs present, More House might admit from Y4 but it would be a long journey. There is Odyssey House and Unsted Park but they would also be very long journeys. Some primary aged DC do journeys that long. However, it would be a big undertaking.

There is Roehampton Gate school, but I would avoid it.

Thanks for the replies.

Currently in mainstream and the environment is overwhelming and some adjustments suggested by the SALT cannot be met eg) having a desk in the corridor.

Salt, ot and pead reccomend a specialist setting with direct and indirect therapy etc (long list)

Appreciate the list above .

You could look at Cappella House in Twickenham, if that's not too far. I'm not sure if it's quite your DCs profile as it's primarily children with SLT needs, but they do take autistic children.