Which London boroughs are good for SEN?

[razumov]

I have tried to google it but there is v little information available. DS is summer born Y2. So far, I have identified Richmond and Harrow and Camden as possibilities - any thoughts on these or recommendations on others. Would quite like to live somewhere lively and multicultural.

I think it can depend on which SEN tbh, and what you mean by 'good'.

Some boroughs are so atrocious that you are more easily able to win funding for an independent school. Some can have a good reputation but still fall far short for the individual needs of YOUR child, even though they are doing well for others, thereby making it impossible for you to argue that you need something additional/different.

Many boroughs are adopting agressive strategies against provision now because if they become known for being SEN friendly, parents flock there and deplete their budget. Until there is a national strategy this will always be the case, so many that WERE good, are not so any more.

Westminster are probably the best, on account that the price of accomodation is such that parents CAN'T flock there.

Richmond currently are trying to bring their tribunal rate down so are listening to parents and trying to do deals with suppliers but who knows how long for.

Barnet have been easier to get provision from but are tightening things, although still not as hard as most.

I could probably list the bad ones more than the good tbh.

Richmond is a lovely borough, but not sure anyone would ever call it multicultural.

Or lively, come to think of it.

It's classic suburbia

Kingston have been very, very generous in recent years, sending many children I know to independent asd schools without tribunal

But yes, they will probably be forced to pull the ladder up soon as I personally know of many families who have moved there in the last year specifically to try and win expensive provision.

I probably would have done the same if it had come to it!

Thanks for your insights. I agree that Richmond is not exactly multicultural. Sadly, Westminster is out of the question
I looked seriously at Kingston a while back for reasons unrelated to SEN and it did appeal in many ways. If only I had moved there back then!
Re Barnet/Harrow I am trying to avoid that whole mock-Tudor set-up as I find it really depressing and as a lone parent non-driver I would be seeing a lot of it. I think that the secondary school provision in Kingston was the reason why I went lukewarm on it. Is there a deal with neighbouring Richmond - I read something about it.

I am looking for an area where DS is likely to progress to secondary with the same group of children (give or take a few). I don't think he would qualify for special school but he has always needed 1-1 and is getting none from this year onwards. I am now facing a situation whereby he learns all his words for the spelling test but is only tested on a few (alongside a group of children who can barely read); I am told that they are aware that he is a good reader/ speller but he can be stubborn and they do not have the time to devote to ensuring that he is tested on the five extra spellings because the assistant needs to concentrate on the rest of the class. I do not feel that this is acceptable. I know he has significant difficulties learning/communicating in a large group situation (has been tested) but their lack of effort in attempting to engage him means that he has become demotivated and less enthusiastic at home when I am teaching him.Once I get him concentrating he is extremely good - even at subjects such as maths in which they deemed him "hopeless".

I feel that moving somewhere where he is likely to get the 1-1 support without a struggle and the pastoral care/ handholding and where he can grow with the same peer group is really what I am seeking.