Mainstream/sen schools

[Beeboomam]

Hi all
My DD is 6, year 2, pre verbal but not much in a communicative sense but can get her message across in other ways most of the time, on pathway, GDD, has S&L, EHCP and OT, needs a lot of sensory input/breaks etc

Currently at mainstream, I love her school the head and senco both have children on the spectrum so are very understanding/flexible, DD is very self directed 80% of the time has 1-1, can cope so so in mainstream class sitting with her 1-1 whilst doing things like carpet time/phonics/smart board activities but when it comes to sitting down/paper based work etc cannot cope as can’t read/write (I feel sometimes she can read certain things as she loves books always looking at them, knows her alphabet/phonics etc) so she goes into a separate room next door with 2 TA’s with another student who is on the same level as her and they do sensory based learning and have resources such as a sensory room/sensory circuits etc. I also worry if this child leaves/is off etc my DD is on her own most days

DD does seem happy and being included based on her own tolerance, most days she is mostly out of the mainstream class doing sensory input activities, she sensory seeks almost all the time even at home, but I am just always second guessing should i try a Sen base/special school, I have visited a couple and the classes are 8-10 children and I feel even then she would still want time outside the classroom as she can’t cope with loud sudden noises/ children running/darting suddenly, and I feel if she were around more children with extra needs would she cope with the extra noises? etc, I visited one that had 10 boys in the class ages 7-10 and some were quite big lads and a lot of loud noises although only small percent of the time I was there, I feel she just wouldn’t not enjoy this as much as the support she is receiving now.

sorry, I feel I’m rambling, I guess the thing I’m worried about is her being included in her own class etc and if she would do better In a different setting but worried she may be worse off,
anyone have similar children doing well in mainstream/same situation etc?
would love to hear some views as not many people around me with experience in the matter tia

I would investigate more bases and SS within travelling distance. For many with the needs you describe, MS becomes more difficult as DC move up through the school. How will DD cope with the increased demands? Not just academic, but socially and emotionally, too. For many, this results in them spending less time in class and consequently (especially if the EHCP is poor) not receiving as much (or even any) teacher time. There are SS with smaller class sizes. Some also have breakout spaces off the main classrooms. Most have at least some DC on personal timetables who don’t spend 100% of the time with their main class. Most co-ed SS are boy heavy, but some more than others. Similarly, some are noisier than others.