Meeting and return to school - special school??

[debs40again]

DS is such a happy little chappy at the moment but I dread the return to school tomorrow.

I am trying really hard (and not very successfully I am sure) to separate my feelings about school and his. I feel it is not the right place for him but as we are so uncertain about where we want to be long-term (we need to get out of this horrendous grammar school system) I have had to keep him where he is - for now.

We have a meeting with the LA about his proposed statement which is very short on hours and expert support - especially SALT - and this clearly is a case which will end up in Tribunal unless the LA realise they'll be throwing good money after bad.

Anyway, several people (and professionals) have suggested I look at local special schools but I just don't know if that is the way to go. I feel he should be able to go to the same school as his sibling and that he has a right to be included but am I being naiive?

He is bright but so very disengaged with school. Part of me feels like just not sending him back. But then the younger one also says he hates school - so maybe keeping them put until we decide what school to go to is the answer.

Is it too late in the day to start looking at special schools?

Didn't want to leave this unanswered:

Its never to late to look - and by looking, it might confirm whether you feel he would be better off there or where he is iyswim?

Can't comment on how easy it is to find one this late in the day as I'm not in the UK, but have to say that putting DD in special school since September has transformed her. She trots off to school with a big smile on her face. Her eye contact is better, her social skills have improved. At a good school they work on everything - behaviour, sensory stuff, not just academic learning. Her language skills have improved immensely.
It has been a bit difficult, knowing that her little brother is at a different school, and that he goes full-time and she is only part-time (system is different here - we only got a part-time place for DD due to funding issues) but it is definitely a much better place for her! Just look around and see if you can find a good school. That will help inform your decision.

DS went to a ms primary and then a special school for secondary - so it's definitely not too late for your DS. I think school can often become more challenging as children move up through the school, the academic side depends more on organisational skills and socially it's more complex. So children who start off coping with ms sometimes move to special school when they're older.

I think it's worth calling the local schools and asking for a visit. You will probably know from looking at the other children there, whether it's somewhere your DS is likely to fit in.

I think special schools usually good at reducing anxiety, improving independence skills and have better access to therapies, but sometimes won't be as academically challenging as ms school. That was a key question for us - not just in terms of them adjusting the curriculum for DS, but also providing a suitable peer group so he could develop social skills.

Do have a look at the special schools. Also could you consider a joint placement with ss and ms school?
DS goes to a ss and they do a lot of joint placements. Older children go into local secondary schools for certain lessons/exams and some go on to university so they can and do provide for those who are academically able.

Thanks for this. I will certainly try and look around at different schools. They just do not 'get' DS at school and he is so turned off. I found out he was kept in through his break today as he had not finished his work which was writing. This is despite the fact that they know all about his problems, is slowness with writing etc. He is adamant he was not messing about and I know that is the usual 'puishment' for children who don't finish in time - whether they are at fault or not but it has never happened to him before.

And this is an Ofsted 'outstanding' school!

I have a younger son who has just started in reception and he was in tears tonight about the 'old days' which used to be fun.

Something just tells me that we need at least to try a school which cares about kids more than SATS.