School for extremely intelligent ASD boy with significant behavioural problems

[FreckledLeopard]

So, finally, DH and DSS's mother appear to be coming round to the idea that DSS (9) will need to go to a Special School for Secondary, if not before. His statement is up for review and the school he's currently at (small CofE school) and DH are endeavouring to increase the hours of his one-to-one from 16 per week (which at the moment covers just mornings) to full time, as DSS's behaviour is very difficult to handle.

So, DH looked at a Special School today, Secondary, specialising in ASD/dyslexia. Very small class sizes, nice environment etc. BUT, problem is, DSS is extremely intelligent. He's reading books on quantum physics, Stephen Hawking's Brief History of Time, books on probability and mathematical theory. He reads voraciously, knows huge amounts of science and has a huge vocabulary. The issue is trying to find a suitable school.

A lot of the Special Schools seem to cater at a basic level in terms of teaching. DH observed a class for 16 year olds at the school today, on space, where everything that was being taught was already known by DSS when he was 3.

DSS, whilst incredibly intelligent in areas that interest him, refuses to participate in anything that doesn't interest him. At school, even with 1-to-1, he zones out, writes nonsense, doodles, stims, disrupts other children, shouts out and is frequently being sent out of the classroom with his 1-to-1 to calm down. He won't follow instructions, won't do anything unless he wants to. It's been suggested that he has PDA as well as autism, which seems very probable to me.

There seems to be no way that he'll be able to go to a mainstream school - he'd be bullied and beaten up and most probably excluded very early on. So, we're now trying to find a school that can challenge him academically, but also manage his behaviour and teach him basic life skills (i.e. how to manage day to day things such as shopping, travelling, personal hygiene etc).

Does anyone have any experience of this or any recommendations? School could be residential or day. We're based in West London. Suggestions at the moment seem slightly limited as DSS doesn't seem to fit a 'typical profile' for any school.

Many thanks.

Have a look at the cambian and priory schools.

I came on here to say I worked at one of the schools owned by one of the companies Starlight mentioned (thanks for helping me not out myself )

I wouldn't recommend working there but the ordinary level staff are very dedicated and caring

Thank you! Am googling now and will get prospectuses (prospecti?) - please keep suggestions coming!

From West London you'll need to consider at least weekly boarding. However, when I worked there funding was available for transport at the beginning and end of each half term plus alternate weekends in between (was a few years ago and not all students got/needed it)

Places are usually funded by the LEA and fees will be into six figures so be prepared to go to tribunal.

You'll also need to be prepared for staff to use physical restraint if they deem it necessary. That one took a few parents by surprise! It's not used often and only in very specific circumstances, ie to stop someone getting hurt. Not all students I worked with needed restraining but it's a big difference from mainstream where staff are very hands off.

Students I worked with mostly left with GCSE's, some with more than 5 at A* to C, some with one grade F - depending on the student. The prospectus doesn't lie when it says some students attend college/mainstream part time, but it's rarer than they make out

Sport, swimming, walking into town at the weekend, music all activities I took part in and helped organise weekly, plus the obligatory ICT time!

Worth seeing? Maybe being gifted in a regular school is almost as challenging as the asd?

Hello, what are ds,s behavioral issues like when he is intellectually challenged and with like minded boys, if ok what about the west London grammers eg tiffin. hampton school also had a severely autistic boy a few years back who was a physics whiz. many special needs schools do have quite low academic results. . other than prior schools etc there are places like st dominics but I don't think their results are stellar

IME results at SS for AS are low because the league table results reflect the average, not the individual. Students will be entered for subjects the staff know they'll acheive, so most sit maybe 3 GCSEs because that's as many as they can emotionally handle and subjects they're good at. In MS they'd be put in for 8-10 then have their confidence crushed by failing some (massive generalisation)

Also, a small school like I've worked in will only offer English, Maths and Science plus a language and an art subject. I think the most a student could be entered for was 8 - Eng, Drama, Maths, three single sciences, Art and French - and that depended on the teaching staff, who are hired for their ability to relate to the students. Plus the student themself has to be academically motivated, most students left us with something of a handle on controlling their behaviour but only a few GCSEs, which many would go on to sit at College

The problem is that DSS will only engage in something that interests him and on his terms. So, whilst he knows massive amounts about physics, atoms etc, he wouldn't follow a 'normal' science lesson on basic things such as temperature that water boils at etc (normal Yr 4 things). He'll disrupt lessons, doodle, write about quantum mathematics but will not do the work he's told to unless he feels like doing it.

There's no way he'd be able to cope with a school like Tiffin - far too many people and he can't sit and concentrate for any period of time (i.e. he'll get up, flap, stim, make noises, climb under desks etc).

Also, he refuses to complete or even attempt basic test papers (i.e. SATS). He doodles, writes nonsense or does nothing. Ironically, his basic maths is poor - he can't write numbers the right way round, but his understanding of advanced maths is excellent.

Similarly, his reading is brilliant, his writing can be appalling - depending on the mood he's in.

Half the battle is getting him to actually do the task he's told to without meltdowns, screaming or him doing something totally different.

Have you been in touch with sossen, they know of quite alot of schools accessible from West London they have helped people get via tribunal,

Sounds like a lot of kids I've met - and seen pass their GCSEs and go on to acheive.

Would you be comfortable with a waking day curriculum and therefore boarding?

I don't want to publush my entire CV to the internet but happy to be a bit more specific via PM if that would help :)

FreckledLeopard - we have a similar dilemma with DS1. His psychiatrist admitted to us that there is no provision for him in the county. His interests aren't as narrow as your DSS, but he is demand avoidant and extremely unpredictable and can be very aggressive and belligerent when he's not coping with either environment or expectations (and that includes his own).

We do have a priory school nearby, but they focus only on vocational courses at 14-16. There's also a private secondary school which takes in a lot of children with ASDs and ADHD, but it has expectations about behaviour which mean he wouldn't last 2 minutes there.

He's a spiky peg who fits into neither the round nor square shaped holes that are available.

Good to know that there's others out there with similar issues. PurplePidjin - in terms of residential, it's hard to say, given that his mother has him 50% of the time and us the other and the relationship between her and DH is extremely difficult and trying to get her onside over anything is a battle. At the same time, it's certainly worth us looking at all options.

That sounds like any decision is going to be tricky

Might residential be ideal then? Hmm, if it suits, you'll need ex to come up with the idea, ready to force it through without taking heed of your views....