Mainstream or SEMH setting EHCP

[DuggeeH]

Hi all,

Just after some advice please. My 6yr old son is autistic with demand avoidance/suspected ADHD. He's more of a SENbetweener.

He's been in mainstream since reception, been excluded three times - once this current term for destruction to his classroom before the half term break.

He enjoys school but can struggle a lot - he wants to go to school and is happy going in. He can really good days. He said to me last week he finds school hard sometimes. He talks about his school with pride but he is starting to realise he is different compared to his peers.

I am appealing the EHCP as there really isn't anything in it that's going to help him with his emotional regulation and get the help he needs.

I'm really stuck as to whether to appeal for a SEMH school - my gut is telling me it will benefit him in the long run rather than staying in mainstream. Most advocates have said SEMH school would benefit him. However, I do have a feeling it will break him if he leaves his school if we are fortunate enough to get a space in a decent SEMH school.

I have asked the school what their thoughts are and it feels as though they don't wish to give an answer as it may be a bad reflection on them.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Any advice would really be appreciated.

Thanks

Have you looked at what SEMH SS are within travelling distance? If you haven’t, I would start by doing that and also looking at what ASD SS are around. For many DC with ASD, most SEMH settings would be the wrong place. For most with ASD, their SEMH needs are secondary to their ASD and need a slightly different approach. Obviously I haven’t seen DS’s paperwork, so I can’t say for certain he falls into that group.

I second what pp said. I would look around at Autism specific schools and SEMH. Even just to get an idea if you didn't want to go down this route now. We visited many (all) specialist settings in and around our LA. Even comparing two SEMH schools we visited they couldn't have been more different in their approach and cohort.

thank you for your replies @2x4greenbrick and @HippoLadybird123 .

@HippoLadybird123 did you send your DC to an SEMH school? If so, was it positive?

No so both DC are in SS now. We looked at so many schools one very therapeutic independent SEMH wouldn't admit DS because of his behaviours when dysregulated, and also his learning levels. He got an offer at another independent SEMH nearly 2 hours away so that was the deal breaker. However the school was amazing. As I said previously the cohorts can vary throughout all. He is now in LA special school. He missed years of school after his MS place broke down they could no longer meet need. Similar story for DD. Both are thriving now. I would encourage looking! Atleast to consider further down the line.

thank you both for your insights, it really helps.