Considering private education for ASD child for KS2

[dietcokeandwine]

DS is 6, ASD DX a year ago, due to transfer from his small infants to a much larger (and renowned to be highly academic and 'pushy', for want of a better word) junior school when he finishes Y2 next year.

Probably best described as being at the milder end of the spectrum in that his main challenges at school are to do with poor listening skills and difficulties in concentrating - i.e. easily distracted and can get a bit lost during whole class work, but works well in small groups or on a one-to-one basis. Academically he is making good progress but certainly not advanced or outstanding, socially he's clumsy but has made friends and is happy enough - at the moment.

But - key concern is that the junior school (which realistically is going to be the one he gets into on the basis we live closest to it) he is due to transfer to may not be the best option for him. I just don't know whether he'd cope with it even if we secure one-to-one support. However, teachers both last year and this year have commented that they feel he would do really well in a much smaller class environment and hence our thinking around considering a private school.

I would be really interested to hear from any SN parents who have opted for private school for their child, and what their child's experience has been. Are we mad to even consider it, or is there a chance we'll find a school that will work with the needs DS has and nurture/encourage without hothousing? I'm a total novice as far as private school goes so I'd really appreciate any advice.

Definately talk to the SENCO at the junior school to find out more info. They may be able to provide all sorts of support, and be very good with SEN - or they may not.

Don't let class size by itself dictate your decision, I'm really not convinced it has that much impact compared to the attitude of the school to SEN.

And also like you said, I think it is unlikely a private school would put less pressure on your kid with regards to academic achievement.

Hi dietcoke,

Would ask first off what county you reside in.

I would be wary re private schools as private schools work outside the control of the LEA in question and have their own agenda. Also they may not be at all SEN friendly (let alone ASD friendly) and very competitive academically to boot. Also you are moving your son away from his friends he has made and will have to start again.

If your son is on the spectrum I would certainly apply for a Statement and ignore the people who say that he would not get one due to him being too able academically (if this has been said to you. That is BS).
Have you tried securing one to one support via obtaining a Statement of special needs from the LEA?. If not I would seriously put in your request for such a document to the LEA asap. If you want support that would actually mean something in Junior school now is the time to apply for a Statement. Unfortunately these things can take around 6 months to set up so a Statement would not be in place for Sept.

If you do try for a Statement you need to write to the Chief Education Officer at your LEA and give them six weeks to reply. Mark that date on your calendar.

IPSEA's website have model letters you can use:- www.ipsea.org.uk

I looked into a local private school for my ASD son for similar reasons to you - smaller classes and more attention. But DS had already become quite disengaged from classwork by that time and after a trial day, they felt they couldn't cope with his SN.

In hindsight, I recognise that his needs were above and beyond what could be met by smaller class sizes - he needed 1:1 and that's what he has now.

I have heard of other parents who have been happier by transferring to private school - I think it really depends on how severe the child's needs are. If you're doubting your child's ability to cope in a mainstream even with 1:1 support, that suggests to me that his needs couldn't be met in just a small, nurturing school. Also, ASD needs often increase as children grow older and they encounter more socially complex situations.

Would you be able to pay for private education through to secondary? If you think you might want to switch back to the state system, it can often be harder to get support in place when children are older (in terms of statementing).

Is he on School Action+? Do you have a statement for him? If he has a statement, you would have far more choice over which state school he goes to. It can be hard to get a good statement, but it would be harder to get it if he were at private school. If you have the means to pay for private school, it might be a better option to pay towards legal support/expert reports with a view to getting a statement than to pay for the ongoing costs of private schooling.

If you do choose private,then choose very carefully ( ds1 has aspergers and we took him out of state school)Which county are you in we are in Bucks/Berks

We're in Surrey, and yes we need to think about a statement (DS is due to transfer to this school Sept 2011) though having just read the Surrey county council thread I am guessing we'd be in for a major fight. DS is very much at the milder end of the spectrum and in my view his needs are not particularly complex or severe, so I'd have a hard time convincing anyone else that they were!

I should probably clarify, it's not that I doubt his ability to cope in mainstream without full time one to one. He currently copes at his mainstream infants with no formal one-to-one at all - though the school has a good ratio of additional LSA support which obviously helps - he is on SA+ and receives regular OT support plus stuff like fiddle toys to help concentration and so on.

It is more the transfer to the junior school that worries me. I think my issue is that all of the points you make about private school - hugely competitive, highly academic and not particularly SEN friendly as Attila puts it -are renowned features of this state junior (the general consensus of the heads of the infant schools feeding into it seems to be that SEN children will not cope there and to look for alternatives if at all possible, I know of several SEN parents who have been told this by different infant headteachers). The school is also huge and described as being like a mini high school.

Hence why I wonder whether a (very carefully chosen) private school might be a better option, though I do take on board the point about being outside LEA jurisdiction. Mind you given what we read about useless LEAs on here anyway would that make much difference...

mintcracknel I would be interested to hear how your son is getting on, I presume from what you write that he is now in the private sector?

Anyway lots to think about, and thanks very much for your responses, they are much appreciated.