Looking for suitable small SEN school settings in Essex for ASD child

[Mummabear123456]

Hello everyone, I’m looking for help or recommendations please, I have a 6 year old child with ASD non verbal and has a ehcp in place, but problem we are having is finding a suitable setting, we are looking for a smaller setting in Essex area, any help/advice would be much appreciated please

When you say you are looking for a small school, how small do you mean? When it comes to SS there is a big range in what is considered small.

Aside from being non-verbal, what level developmentally is DS at? That will also influence what schools are suitable.

just smaller then average schools as I have been looking and they seem to be 100+ we would like smaller classes for example and more one2one.
It’s a very complicated one as my child has not been to primary school yet as we have been trying to work with council to find suitable school but they have taken there time doing this.thank you

Any suggestions may be wide of the mark because more information is required to ensure suggestions will be suitable. Your posts still cover a wide range of requirements. For example:

• What class size is needed and is that stated in section F? Just saying small class size doesn’t provide enough detail. Are we talking about a class of 3 or 13? Both are considered ‘small’ by LAs. It needs to be more than a like, it needs to be in F.
• Is 1:1 detailed, specified and quantified in section F of the EHCP? It needs to be if it is required. Otherwise, it may not be received and doesn’t have to be provided. How much 1:1 is required?
• Even if DS isn’t in school, it should be known roughly what developmental level DS is at. What does the EP report say? If DS is under a paed, what do they say? This is important; it influences what placements are suitable. Some DC who are non-verbal are cognitively able and others have significant delays across the board.

Is the need for a school with fewer than 100 pupils in F?

I take it you have ruled out Chatten? Maybe because they use ABA? Is Doucecroft too big for what DS needs &/or his needs too complex? You could look at St John’s, but it has around 100 pupils and that will depend on the developmental level DS is at and what you mean by small classes.

If you allow them to, the LA will take their time. There is no incentive because they are saving money by delaying. Is the LA providing alternative provision? When you next have the right of appeal, you need to appeal.

When is DS 7?

Are you near enough to any of the neighbouring LAs to consider schools there?