ASD - Advise on choosing Primary Schools in London Greenwich / Lewisham Boroughs?

[Londonlass23]

Hello Everyone,

DS got a diagnosis for ASD just before xmas. He is due to begin reception in September this year but I really wanted some advice about which schools to put on the application form.

So far our preferences are Christchurch (Shooters Hill), Halstow, Brooklands, John Ball and All Saints.

Would be interested in hearing from parents with any ASD children currently in any of these schools or any other school in these boroughs that I haven't mentioned, thanks.

Does he have a atatement? I'm asking because those schools are spread over a wide area and the catchement for Chrsitchurch and Halstow are very small.
I know both of the above have good reputations but I don't know about provision for asd. I think Millenium school, Greenwich has a specialist asd provision in it.
My personal opinion is that although small schools may seem better suited to asd, larger schools often seem to have a bigger pot of money to spend on social skills groups, Ot groups etc.

BTW, he will only get priority for a placement if he has a statement.

Unless he has a statement RUN from Greenwich. Lewisham lea is a better one generally.

None of the above except Millenium as it has an asd unit - have pm'd you

Thanks for the replies. Like I said he just got diagnosed before the christmas break. In a bit of a pickle really as applications forms need to be in by the 15th of January! Not sure if he will get a statement or how long this takes to assess, anyone know this?

So Maddie from what you are saying catchment is most important regardless of whether you have a statement or not?

Bochead, no message from you in my inbox - am I checking in the wrong location?

To apply for a statement you simply write a letter requesting one to your director of Childrens services (the ipsea website has model letters for you to use).

The process takes 6 months so if you apply now, the correct support will be in place when your son starts. Don't delay though! You name the school you''d like your kid to go to about 3 months into the process and it supercedes any catchment considerations. Otherwise catchment wins - not good if the school with asd expertise is 10 yards outside catchment lol!

Check your inbox again.

Hi, you would need a statement to be able to name a school of your choice. You can still name a school of your choice but with no statement usual admissions criteria apply, usually looked after children, siblings them proximity.
Did they make any plans for what will happen next at the diagnosis meeting? Does he currently have support at nursery?

Hi Maddie,

The diagnosis meeting took place just before the xmas break and if I'm honest the minute they told us DS had autism everything else they said after that was a blur. I remember looking at their faces and seeing their mouths move but not hearing a single word after that.

I will write and ask for the statement tonight, thanks Bochead. We live in Shooters Hill just minutes away from Christchurch so that is our preferred school but I can't just put 1 school on the form .

The whole process is so confusing but thank God for Mumsnet! :)

Sorry, he's been seeing the area senco at nursery for the last year leading up to the diagnosis.

You can put four schools on the form. We didn't get a single one & DS was left without a place at all so don't fret too much at this stage as "choice" can be a bit moot in Greenwich.

The statement process will supercede anything you say now anyway as his needs will be much more clearly defined. Concentrate on a statement as you'll NEED this.

Greenwich has 500 kids with firm asd dagnoses and a large tranche where diagnosis is delayed, (teen diagnosis is not unusual even when issues are noted as young as 2 with the higher functioning kids) so there s a real struggle for access to services. That statement means a LOT as it's the only way to guarantee support for your child.

We were in the same position last year when applying - ds had a dx but no statement yet, so we had to go through the common application process. Some schools give precedence to children on Social or Medical grounds (we're in borough of Southwark so not sure if Greenwich/Lewisham the same) but if so you can argue for priority on these grounds without a statement, and send in evidence from paed or whatever you have, with a supporting statement why that particular school is the one that best meets your ds's needs.

In practice this often won't make any difference though (didn't with us). I think most of the schools you mention are probably also oversubscribed so will come down to siblings/catchment.

It is difficult at this stage to know what your ds will really need from a school - or how good/supportive/suitable a school will really be when it comes to it. If I was you I would list the schools in the order you want, tick the box that says Social/Medical priority (if this applies?), and submit all the evidence you can include.

In the meantime apply for a statement. He'll probably already be in a school by the time you get it, or will certainly have been allocated one, but if you're not happy then you can probably change schools pretty easily with a statement. Imo a statement is more important at this stage than the school.

It's worth talking to Parent Partnership, they should have someone who specialises in school admissions/SEN.

Good luck.

(btw I grew up in Shooters Hill then Blackheath )

the only other advice i would give is to NOT go by purely reputation or league table results. Go to each school, chat to the head & SENCO. When it comes to SN support in schools a welcoming inclusive proactive staff who want to work work with you & want your child at their school is the single most important thing!
Often schools that are results driven are not the most welcoming of children with SN.

bochead I live in Lewisham and my brother has Asperger's Syndrome and I would say avoid Lewisham LEA like the plague statement or no statement. They couldn't care less: latest news from them is they're going to stop issuing statements. Read article 2.2c of this document Anyone crushed with the cynicism of years wasted with these idiots can see that this is a money saving exercise at the expense of vunerable children.

My brother had SALT specified on his statement; he received a week course during one summer holiday on how to answer the telephone in 7 years. Nothing else whatsoever. He wasn't allowed to bring books home from school and my mother has the letter from the Head of the special school he went to (age range 4-16) saying it was "unheard of" to get extra time in public exams (GCSEs etc).

blueemerald That document is shocking.

More importantly, the limitations imposed by traditional school building design restrict teachers? ability to find creative solutions to the problems posed by some of our more challenging children and young people.

Nice that they describe children with disabilities as challenging. They make it sound like it's the childrens' fault ffs. Yes those children with SN should just bloody well pull themselves together, do they not realise how demanding they are and how difficult they make the lives of LA staff?

The high number of statements in Lewisham should be significantly reduced through early intervention to stop statements becoming necessary;

Lololololololololol

Just to be clear, the lolololololol was specifically at the idea they would eliminate the need for statements by "early intervention". They'd be welcome to our Early Years Intervention Officer

Lewisham lea ain't great for sen but what goes on in Greenwich is shocking! Lewisham also has adequate health care services, Greenwich doesn't.

I live on the borders and my kid has attended schools/used health care in both boroughs. As I live on the borders I got the "priviledge" of comparing notes with other Mums going through tribunal resident in both boroughs and have seen the effectiveness (or not) of both MP's.

It's a marathon where ever you live - all that varies is the steepness of the slope ; ) That slope in Lewisham is marginally less vertical. Southwark - well there it seems common to have to go to tribunal 5 or 6 times in a child's school career from the anectdotal evidence I've come across.

Both boroughs suffer from a shortage of school places /housing/ overloaded health services/general poverty and a rapidly rising birth rate. It's not right or fair but the sheer numbers mean only those children whose parents both understand the system AND will take it as far as they can on the legal front AND refuse to give up stand a chance, unless they know someone important. Dog eat dog.

The two boroughs have joined forces to become a "path finder" pilot area for the government green paper. That tells me any parent who can should go get a statement NOW, before things get worse under mr David "oh I understand the needs of disabled kids so vote for me" Cameron.

On of our Councillors in Lewisham has a daughter with SEN and she went to school out of borough- enough said! It's tough in every borough though, I work in a Wandsworth special school and the LEA are constantly trying to cram more children into the place but without the staff to help!

Londonlass23 Sorry for the hijack! My advice would be get the statement get the statement get the statement Bochead's last two passages are chillingly accurate.