Anybody in Gloucestershire?

[redhappy]

I am about to move there.

Would be great to to get any info on what the council does well, and what they don't! Any advice on schools, days out etc would be great too, and maybe even a meetup if anyone's interested?

Forgot to say, I have ds (4) asd not diagnosed yet, and dd (3) nt.

I'm not Glos, (so can't help with Ed info etc,) but am Wilts, so next door, for meeting up etc... (one ds ASD 4.5 with mod LD too.)

where about in Glos? PM me if you would like to

Yep, I'm in Gloucestershire. What area are you looking at? Feel free to PM me if you'd like.

Gloucestershire has a superb educational psychology service, albeit one which has experienced severe spending reductions. Don't hesistate to ask them for advice. Glos has excellent special schools, and a lot of mainstream schools with very effective provision for children with learning difficulties.

I'm there, too, with an 11 year old DS with ASD, and a TA for a DC with ASD. PM me.

The advisory teaching service for Communication and Interaction are good, especially in the early days and at transitions, but overstretched, like everyone else. For special schools, Milestones in Gloucester, or Alderman Knight in Tewkesbury. Both good with ASD but of the more severe kind. Alderman Knight more MLD with complex needs. Not Bettridge, which is good for SLD other than ASD. I know of families that live very close to Bettridge who prefer to transport over to Glos or Tewkes. For MS primary its harder to say, Christchurch in Chelt has a comm and int special unit, but very limited spaces. I'd usually suggest slightly less academically driven schools as they can be more sympathetic. Don't want to slag off on here.

Secondaries, I'd rather PM as I've got strong opinions!

I don't know much about Stroud.

The LA is no better than many others, but not the worst.

im in gloucester. the advisory teaching service are lovely. ds is 3, 4 in august. he starts school sep. he is going to a communication and interaction unit attached to a mainstream where he'll get the best of both worlds,
there are four in gloucestershire.

tuffley, gloucester 01452 331396

christchurch, cheltenham 01242 523392

gastrells, stroud 01453 765959

ruardean ,forest of dean 01594 544565

gloucestershire shire hall special educational needs dept 01452 425480

for social support the spring centre in glos runs parent meets for asd parents and family days in hols etc staff and facilities are fab! 01452 725935.

feel free to pm me

How exciting to have so many responses!

Will start the pms now....I may fall asleep soon though, so some of you might have to wait til tomorrow

Also, this link I came across might be useful to anyone reading

BUMP

Well I'm here now, enjoying settling in. I have actually moved back to my hometown so it's been lovely catching up with friends.

The serious work starts tomorrow though. I have already arranged to look at a school after the holidays. Going to start contacting the children's centres and some of the places listed by others above.

signandsmile let me know when you want to try and arrange a meetup. We can put it on here and I'm sure some others will want to come along too.

If anyone else has any ideas of good locations for a meetup, preferably that can be easily reached by public transport be good to hear them.