Waiting for statement. Worried!

[Pumpster]

Hi, am new to this board. So, Hello :)
My eldest dd is 15 and has so far been in mainstream education, but has not been in school now since last October. She had moved to a new school in may, which has been great but unfortunately has not been able to get her into lessons.
After ed psych reports, camhs intervention etc they think she is aspergers, she also suffers from severe anxiety and has paranoia, hallucinations, is on anti d's and anti psychotics.
The statement is in the process of being 'written'. I am so worried that they will try and say dd can go to mainstream with support. The school gave her loads of support, but she was never going to feel comfortable there.
I have found a special school which I think would suit her, but it's a school for girls with mainly learning difficulties. Dd does not have these as such, but I think the caring nurturing environment would suit her really well.
It's so hard when your child doesn't fit into one category!
Just after experiences really.

Hi pumpster

I'm currently in a similar situation. My dd is 13 and was diagnosed with mild/moderate ASD last month. She also has high anxiety which we are fighting to get support for her with from CAMHS. I'm due to submit my parental contribution tomorrow and it will hopefully go to panel on Tuesday. My dd has been out of mainstream classes since October also but we have still managed to get her in to the student support unit at school. They do a lot of great things with her but she doesn't have the coping skills needed or secondary unfortunately. We are looking at special schools as she is highly vulnerable and has no self care skills and is emotionally, behaviourally and socially immature. She is very academically capable which does limit our options.

Just wanted to let you know that you're not alone hun x

Hi, my dd is similar, emotionally very young. She had friends until she was about 8, then they all moved on and she didn't :(
I have spent hours trawling through special schools!
Tough isn't it x

Are you looking at special schools in the independent sector as well as state special schools? DS also has AS and fits into the narrow category of not coping with mainstream but being too academically able for most state special schools, so he is now in an independent special school. We argued that he needed a suitable peer group of similarly able students to be able to develop social skills, he would have been very isolated in an MLD special school.

I have been looking at them but struggling to find one near enough that looks suitable.
Is your ds's school a school specialising in asd?

Hi, yes his school is for AS/HFA. He is a residential student, as we had similar problems finding a suitable school nearby. That's something you may want to consider, or even moving near enough to be a day student if you can find the right school. Your DD sounds like she has complex needs (like DS) and that makes it hard to meet all her needs. Has the ss you found confirmed they can meet her needs and if they'd offer additional academic opportunities for her?

It is worth visiting as many schools as you can rather than just looking at the websites/prospectus, as the profile of their students and staff can change over time. Sometimes they can appear suitable on paper but not feel right when you visit, or vice versa.

Submitted our parental contribution yesterday. School were hoping to get theirs in today and if they do it should go to panel on Tuesday. Parent partnership have advised me to start looking at schools. They said that an ASD provision sounds like what she needs which mpwill probably mean trying to push for Independant school. I'm not sure where to even start!

I've struggled to find schools that are suitable for mental health problems that aren't besd schools, she is too anxious I think. I am trawling through independent schools and will go and see any that look promising. Dd is meant to be looking round one tomorrow that I've already seen, with her counselor, but she has had a very bad evening and thinks I'm poisoning her :(
Thanks pipinjo will look at that and sazale, good luck!

Dd loved the school! I think it's right for her. Fingers crossed I don't have to fight too hard to get her in there!

Well the proposed statement came through, written for mainstream with support. I phoned them and said I wanted a particular special school, she went off and spoke to the sen officer, came back and said that's OK we have changed and will apply to that school for you!! And transport will be paid.
I was left reeling, had been expecting a big fight!