Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

Original poster

Special school for children with ASD

17 replies

sphil · 11/02/2006 00:00

Am I allowed to ask questions on here about a specific school? Just found a website which looks very exciting but have a few concerns. I suppose it would maybe be best to be a bit cryptic and general???

OP posts:
colditz · 11/02/2006 00:06

I see no reason why you wouldn't be allowed to ask about a specific school, people ask about specific nurseries all the time!

I probably can't help you though, as ds is NT as far as I know, and only two.

Hope someone can help you.

getbakainyourjimjams · 11/02/2006 03:35

I'd ask - is it ASD specific?

Davros · 11/02/2006 08:20

Yes, ask. I see no reason why not, it happens on Education section all the time. And I'm nosey and want to know which one it is!

Original poster
sphil · 11/02/2006 12:13

Oh good because I really want to! Have e-mailed the school with some questions but as it's half term they probably won't reply for a week. And I'm too impatient!

The school is called Step by Step and it's in Sharpthorne near Wych Cross in East Sussex. It's an independent school for 4-11 yr olds with ASD started by a group of parents two or three years ago and is a registered charity. When it first started there was a controversy which the Telegraph reported (my husband gets it for the sport - honest!) - apparently the LEA was saying that parents had to send their children to m/s because the school was not recognised. The very reason the parents started the school was because they felt m/s wasn't right for their children. Anyway, since then it's been inspected and got a good Ofted report. I don't know if the parents are still in dispute with the LEA and it's one of the things I want to find out.

The next question is to do with funding - the website says that to be accepted at the school children have to have an ASD dx, be statemented and 'have an agreement from the LEA or another source to fund the placement'. However the Ofsted report(2005) says that all places are privately funded by parents. This would rule it out for us (I think it's £30,000 a year full time!!)

The school is run on ABA principles - the website makes it sound great. We haven't done ABA with DS2 though, so don't know whether it would be less effective for him if we're not doing it at home. (The pros and cons of doing a home based ABA prgramme with him are a whole different topic.

I suppose I'd just like to know if anyone knows anything about the school or has any thoughts about the issues I've raised above. We'd sort of settled on m/s for DS2, but now I'm starting to wonder. The amount of specialist attention he would get at a school like this would be so much more than at m/s. But 5 classmates....I don't know. And we're supposed to be filling in the statementing form over half term so I need to be a bit clearer about what we want!

OP posts:
Original poster
sphil · 11/02/2006 21:55

Bump - I know you've all got better things to do on a Sat night...

OP posts:
onlyjoking9329 · 11/02/2006 22:14

Bump, sorry i don't know the school, we have three children with autism the two oldest go to a special needs school they are coming up twelve, last year they were in a class of 8 all with ASD this year they are in a class of ten, five have ASD and others have downs syndrome, koffin lowry syndrome, smith maggenis syndrome, this year has been much better, i think it has been helpful to have a better mix as, they all have differing needs/ abilities and learn from each other.

Original poster
sphil · 12/02/2006 17:47

Bump

OP posts:
Original poster
sphil · 12/02/2006 17:50

Sorry Onlyjoking, that was really rude to bump without acknowledging your reply! Interesting what you say about prefering the mixed special needs school. Where does your youngest go?

OP posts:
onlyjoking9329 · 12/02/2006 20:24

my youngest goes to mainstream, but a small village school, 100 kids and he is in year 4 but only 18 in his class.

Davros · 12/02/2006 20:27

My DS goes to a school exactly like this but it is some years further down the line, e.g. all places are LEA funded although it was started by parents who self-funded at first. Have a look at www.treehouse.org.uk I have always felt very lucky that DS goes to this school but I've also felt just as lucky NOT to have been one of the first/early families to join. It has been very hard going and the school was not great imo for the first few years. It is great now so getting in when you can, however early in the school's growth, may be very worthwhile. Can you speak to any other parents whose children go to the school? You could also speak to the Development Officer at TreeHouse as they prob had a hand in supporting its foundation. It was hard to make that decision that DS would be with all children with ASD, not so much the decision that special school was appropriate, but the wholly ASD peers (of which he is one to the others of course iyswim). I don't have much time now, please feel free to ask me more if I can help.

Original poster
sphil · 12/02/2006 20:40

Thanks Davros - I've heard of Treehouse. I suppose it is quite unlikely that with such a small number on roll anyone with direct experience of the school will reply here. I've emailed some questions to the school and may ask them if they can put me in touch with a parent or two. I'm just about to start a separate thread about ABA, which this school uses - could definitely do with your thoughts on that one, when you've got time.

OP posts:
lockets · 12/02/2006 20:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
sphil · 13/02/2006 10:54

I'll try one last big BUMP!

OP posts:
JakB · 14/02/2006 16:49

sphil, my DD's consultant helped set it up, I'm sure. Shall I find out more?

Original poster
sphil · 15/02/2006 14:40

Please please JakB. That would be great.

OP posts:
Original poster
sphil · 22/02/2006 23:21

Just bumping this from last week in case you've managed to find out anything JakB. School hasn't replied to my e-mail yet.

OP posts:
JakB · 23/02/2006 07:42

Will get on to it today love

New posts on this thread. Refresh page