Secondary school options in North Surrey for daughter with possible ASD

[Surreysorry]

My 13-year old DD has been doing very well in a private secondary school for a year and a half (sporty and won the engagement prize last year), but has increasingly been overwhelmed by noisy classes, silent classes, and self-consciousness. It has got to the point where I've had to pull her out of school while we seek help from CAMHS.

My DS and I are both high-functioning autistic, and DD has always been the 'sociable one', but I'm searching around to get her checked for ASD. Assuming that is the case, and her current school can't provide any solutions, I will need to start looking for a school that caters to her better. She wants to do home schooling, but that seems horribly unfeasible, and I would really worry about her social development in that scenario.

Ideally I need somewhere that has small class sizes, takes deliberate steps to manage these sorts of stimulation issues, but still aims to provide strong academic and sporting curriculum. I'm having difficulty telling which schools would fit that bill, and which ones would have pupils that can't help but be disruptive for whatever condition they might have. We're in North Surrey.

I'm assuming it will have to be private, since I understand that I would need an EHCP for state, and that can take a very long time and needs to follow a formal ASD diagnosis, but I'm very new to this situation, so do correct me if I'm wrong.

Halliford in Shepperton?

Would Limpsfield Grange be suitable, once all assessments etc have been completed and you have confirmation that she meets the admission criteria?

https://limpsfieldgrange.co.uk/

Are you looking for a mainstream or special school? At points of your post I thought mainstream and at other points specialist.

For mainstream state schools, you don’t need an EHCP. However, from your OP, I doubt a state mainstream will be able to meet needs, EHCP or not.

You don’t need a diagnosis before requesting an EHCNA. EHCPs are based on needs, not diagnosis. But some SS require a formal diagnosis.

I would request an EHCNA now. If DD can’t attend school, I would also request alternative provision under section 19 of the Education Act 1996.

Sorry, just to be clear, I am assuming special school, because a mainstream school, even one that caters to SEN pupils particularly well, is going to have the large class sizes.

Thanks on the EHCNA - I'll look into that, because that would potentially save me a lot. I can investigate whether she qualifies for section 19, although she's not been excluded, rather her distress is strong enough that the school recommended she be kept out until she is able to cope. I don't know if that is a trickier situation.

To the other posts, Halliford School in Shepperton is probably not too different from her current school, a mainstream that does its best to accommodate SEN. I did see Limpsfield Grange, but the question is how quickly I could get through the process, so I'm not pinning my hopes on a state school yet.

@Surreysorry

This page seems to have some handy guidance, OP.

https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/children/support-and-advice/local-offer/parents-and-carers/ehcp/needs-assessment

Thanks, I will check out that side of things, but I really want to focus on private specialist SEN/ASD secondary schools from those who know them on this thread, if I can!

You will really struggle to find an independent SS who will accept self-funders (not all independent SS accept self-funders. When they do, they can be very, very expensive.), is strong academically (what level of academics are you talking about?), strong with sports and doesn’t have pupils who are at times dysregulated. A lot with DC that kind of profile end up with EOTAS/EOTIS.

If you are wanting strong academics, Limpsfield Grange is unlikely to work. They offer more than some SS, but nowhere near being considered academic.

You could look at Ashley Park/Skylarks. However, even though they have different pathways for different profiles, academically they aren’t at the level of a mainstream either and DD may still find the environment overwhelming. I haven’t known them to admit self-funders but you can ask. They like a formal diagnosis but if you think it would be suitable, it is worth asking.

There is Leith Hill and Woodstock (what used to be Wemms). The group those two schools belong to accepts self funders. However, DD will probably find those settings overwhelming and again isn’t at the level of mainstream academically.

There is also Knowl Hill, but again while nurturing, they don’t offer the same academics or sports a mainstream school does.

Depending on where in N Surrey you are, Woodview may be doable. Again, not the most academic of schools and may still be too overwhelming, but that group has previously accepted self-funders.

They don’t offer the range of GCSEs mainstream schools do, but you could look at Brown’s if it is within travelling distance of you. Don’t rule it out just because it is a SpLD school.

Section 19 provision doesn’t just cover exclusion. If DD can’t attend because of her mental health &/or SEN, it still applies. SCC will try to brush you off but don’t be fobbed off.

Request an EHCNA and appeal if refused.

Thanks, that's really useful. I'm not kidding myself that she could find a school that's perfect, I guess I'm looking for the type of school and student body that can give her the best chance of doing well but in an environment that isn't so distressing for her.

It sounds like I may have to look to go through the full process of trying to get state funding and in the meantime possibly home school in the short term if I can't get her safely back into her current school. I can just about afford the school she's in but if it's a significant step up from regular independent schools, then it's going to be out of my reach.

If you can only just afford the current mainstream independent, you absolutely cannot afford the fees for independent SS that might be suitable.

If Canbury is within travelling distance for you, that might be worth looking into. It is a MS but not your typical MS. It doesn’t have the specialist input some SS though, which may be a barrier. And much cheaper than independent SS.

You don’t have to EHE if you don’t want to. You can look at s19 provision if DD is unable to attend school. In fact, I suggest you don’t EHE. If you do, SCC has little incentive to agree to assess, agree to issue, and issue a good EHCP. They bank on a proportion of families continuing to EHE rather than appealing.

This is probably not commutable for you - but take a look
at this school’s offering - is this something that would suit?

https://www.libertywoodlandschool.com/

Thanks for this, I must say I find it a little depressing / daunting that it is all so strategic! But I shall gird up my loins and get stuck in on Monday. I'll check out Canbury too.

On Liberty Woodland School, it looks like a very nurturing school, but I think a mainstream school would only really work if the class sizes are notably smaller than her current school (about 20) - the ISI report says they have about 30 SEND pupils, so probably just a slightly different angle on the current school (which we chose against the top school offer she got because it was less intense and more nurturing). Thank you for the suggestion though, PlainSkyr