Canbury School in Kingston.

[ineedmoretea]

Hello everyone!

I am starting to search for secondary school for my DS who has Aspergers.He is at present in Y4 in a mainstream primary with a statement of SEN (20 hours LSA support).
I do not feel that a big secondary would fit.I have visited Canbury School and like the small size of the school but would like the views of anyone knowing of the school and their academic achievements.Any other school suggestion would be greatly welcome.
Many thanks!

I was bullied at the bus stop after 3pm. Children are not supervised at the bus stop and often have to wait 20 minutes for a bus. Canbury does look after its children during school hours and the parents are responsible at 3pm.

At least one of the boys who bullied me had ASD. He had major pychological issues and really needed help. Unfortunately Canbury had no after school club. It is desperately hard for a school to the balance the needs of several children with special needs.

reallytired that must have been awful for you, I hope that things improved for you after you changed schools.

I am going to pick up on a few of your comments though:

I am not sure that high functioning autistic/ aspie children are best mixing with children who have emotional and behavioural difficulites.
You're absolutely right, but if your HFA/AS child has EBD too as many do you only have four options:

• a school that will tolerate a child on the Spectrum that is also the only child in the school with EBD (I haven't found one)
• HE
• a specialist school which is likely to have many children with EBD and may not provide an academic challenge (and is likely to cost £££££ unless state funded which is exceedingly unlikely)
• a school where your child is one of many with an assortment of difficulties

I think that children with autism need good role models to develop social skills.
I have not personally witnessed any positive effect from role models in an AS child - I don't think they are capable of developing social skills in that way and that is at the heart of their condition. For instance many AS children behave in a way which is (at least superficially) socially mature in adult company (often precociously so), but are incapable of even a civilised conversation within their peer group. This also leads me to believe that 1-1 classroom/playground assistance is not apprporiate for HFA/AS as it doesn't help the child develop the skills they need in the right context but that is another discussion...

Not many people with neurotyical children choose Canbury.
That is not true. It is true that not many (perhaps none) come to Canbury as confident, un-bullied, non-school phobic, phyiscally able, emotionally stable, english as first language, neurotypical high achievers, but even in %age terms those whose problems are neurologically based are few I believe.

I was bullied at the bus stop after 3pm. Children are not supervised at the bus stop and often have to wait 20 minutes for a bus.

The bus stop is a problem, but that is the case near any school I know where there is not supervision at the bus stop (some of the bus stops in affluent suburbia have police presence every afternoon), and once you are on the bus with children from many schools you are on your own anyway. Any child in Year 7 that is vulnerable to bullying that travels to school unaccompanied is going to have problems so you may wish to avoid this: probably 50% of children in years 7-9 come to Canbury by car.

So ineedmoretea, by 'friends' I meant what you said really - from the AS child's perspective the small number of potential friends is not really a problem if you don't know what a friend is for. Looking at it more objectively, I think the small number of pupils does avoid the dominance of impenetrable (to the AS child) friendship groups that exist in a bigger school, although like all collections of teenagers there are cliques.

But there certainly isn't a group of 'uber-geeks' that hang out together so if you are looking for this and believe it is an accessible reality for your DS, look elsewhere.

I haven't seen Ibstock mentioned anywhere in any of your threads, worth a look too.

Thank you ASparent.
Your answer on 'friendship' is very helpful.
Absolutely loved your concept of 'uber-geeks' hanging out happily chatting about the last Lego Star War model/Nintendo Wii/computer game...one can only dream.
Mainly is your DS happy in Canbury and getting an appropriate education?

I have not heard good things about Ibstock in terms of SEN.

I know a parent there with a child with SEN (diagnosis but no statement) who are both very happy.

Although I think Ibstocks relative strengths are the 'big school' things that your DS doesn't want anyway (sport, drama) so perhaps scratch that.

Yes that is true MrAnchovy

Happier than previous schools - there are even some 'friend-like' relationships which we have never had before.

Academically, science and music are a problem due to the size of the school as I have mentioned. But more importantly I do believe that they have provided access to a suitable education - a school with a more academically selective intake or that is big enough to have an elite stream for science for instance is no use if your DS can't access it because they are in a SEN withdrawal lesson/too disorganised to keep up with the homework/refusing school/suspended or whatever because that is what the school does to 'cope' with your DS's specific needs.

Indeed,assemblies and representation are no nos.
He enjoys immensely doing soap box though... it is all about his interest/current fixation,area of expertise and on his own agenda of course.
Absolutely no interest in sports or art whatsoever but would you if you know you are just not great at it.
Any opinion on More House?

Don't know More House. You seem to be casting your net very wide - have you looked at the service Gabbitas offer?

Your DS having friends like relationships and accessing the curriculum seems like some form of success to me.Sounds like you both have had a fun time "trying out school",which is best avoided in your experience,which has your DS tried?
I think you have very much sumned up my feelings about providing a suitable education for my son in your last post.

Our Senco(quite clueless overall but meaning well) suggested The Hall,Halliford,St James and Radnor House.
One of his previous teacher Hampton Court House.
Sadly only by looking at their website,I find their proposition unrealistic.

I am not considering boarding but would relocate if I was confident it is the right placement.
No I am not aware of Gabbitas services,but the Ed Psych David Urani is assessing my DS next week (for tribunal appeal) and I was going to take the opportunity to ask him about appropriate Secondaries.

Your DS having friends like relationships and accessing the curriculum seems like some form of success to me.

Absolutely :)

Sounds like you both have had a fun time "trying out school",which is best avoided in your experience,which has your DS tried?

I have sent you a message.

I have only just re-read your Original Post - I didn't realise your DS was Y4: bear in mind that he may well have different needs by the time he is in Y7. In particular (a) he may develop coping mechanisms which cause difficulties of their own (although if he has 1-1 support during play time he may be insulated from the stresses that drive this) (b) his intellectual abilities will be better defined - there is not much difference aged 8 between average, bright and gifted, particularly if the picture is clouded by AS.

I have visited Canbury School. My DS is at the Hall School. I am very confused right now! My DS is Dyslexic and Dyspraxic, which has been confirmed. However, he is undoubtedly somewhere on the Aspergers scale, although not diagnosed as he is not emotionally robust and does not want to know of any other 'difficulties' he may have. He is very bright and articulate, has never been the perpetrator of bullying or meaness. He is not coping socially at school and feels isolated. He doesn't fit in with the 'cool' ones, the 'football' ones or even the other kids who find it difficult to make friendships! I am very interested in the comment made that ASD kids may be better mixing with Neurotypicals than more ASD kids. Can anyone elaborate on that please? Does anyone have any more insight into life at Canbury? Are the kids kind to each other, generally?

Hello, your post on Canbury was 14 years ago 🙈🤭 but I’m desperately looking for some thoughts on this school for my level one autistic daughter. Did your son end up attending? And did he have a good experience? Thank you!