Free schools

[linksandsmileys]

Would anyone (or as anyone) considered looking into this option for children with SEN?

There are no adequate placements locally for children with ASD at the so-called 'higer functioning end' and I was speaking to a very well-respected local paediatrician about this yesterday and she kind of suggested that this needs looking into.

I am very much against the reforms generally, particularly the increased introduction of Academies, but I wonder whether the free scool provision provides a genuine opportunity for SEN children???

Thoughts please??

There are attempts to set up one such school that I know of from a post here

I dont know if I would. I really struggle between knowing that DDs will have to one day deal with life in the big world without me and wanting them to learn about it as much as possible, and also protecting them too.
One day Im not going to be here and they have to leave and deal with people that wont make allowance for them all the time, and so they need to learn this early on, but i just dont know.

I know that is basically the argument in favour of m/s lisad. I am in favour of m/s too but I don't expect it to equip my son to deal with the world, rather that I feel my son as a right to be included in his local school, no matter how difficult that makes life for them.

However, it is clear from research evidence that effective early intervention is absolutely key to empowering youngsters like my son and enabling them to develop independence and the skills to manage their difficulties. I think that will give him is best chance of dealing with the big world!

I'm not sure a child can get this from m/s or special schools I know at present.

DS1 goes to a mainstream school (he is on the mild end of the spectrum) and he is doing a lot better than I expected. His class is really small (15 of them) and they focus a lot more on being kind to each other than on the academic stuff. We've had a couple of issues with the senco writing an iep without telling us but other than that it's been fine. I appreciate it's different when you have a child who has more severe issues. I'm not sure how they're going to cope with DS2 who is fine cognitively and socially but has a lot of physical issues.

I think class size and the attitude of the school is very important and differs wildly.

My son as Asperger's so is at the 'high functioning' end and is able but in a class of 35 in a very academic environment. Most of the schools in this area are similarly driven. I think that is what drives able cildren out of m/s - very sadly.