Split placements. And what would I need to do to go from a mainstream with statement to a special school?

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DD is 5.5 and at a mainstream school who give her almost full time support-offially only 15 hours in the statement but they just applied for 30 and have quite a strong case the SENCO thinks-should hear back soon. She has severe speech and language disorder/global dev. delay/ learning difficulties (no one diagnosis more descriptions on reports iyswim) and also a genetic condition which affects her medically, probable epilepsy and small head size. Since being in school she now is described as having challenging behaviour on an EP report.

Aaaaanyway! So I have been thinking a lot about how calm they said she is in her social skills and speech therapy groups and all the smaller group stuff they do with her, and the fact we have been told she would do best in a quiet environment, small class sizes etc. And that her behaviour is always ten time s better when we go to SN type groups. And I think she would do well in a special school environment if I could find the right one, I am worried about how stressed she is becoming in mainstream and how hard it has been on her and me (and school staff at times!)

I like her school a lot, we moved here to be near it and she has some friends there so my ideal would be a split placement between therena d a special school- I need to look around it but I have one in mind that I know has children with her needs in. Who would I talk to? What would I do? Do split placements happen when the schools are not linked to eachother?

We did a split/dual placement and it worked really well. My ds. now 14 at ms, started at a special school full-time at 5 and we transitioned him into our village primary school at 8, starting at one day ms 4 special. Then after about 9 months 2 days ms 3 days special, and carried on moving up ms in slow increments. We never got to full time ms and always kept one day special. From what you have described I can understand why you would want to consider a special school. Our LA was quite negative about us considering a dual-placement. Neither school were linked, both in different counties. However, both schools were behind the idea and the key to success was communication. Infact the ms school learnt a lot from the special school and the special school learnt a lot from the ms. It was a win/win situation for both schools and my ds needs were met on all levels, he got the best of both and never seemed unsettled about attending two schools. Nobody can say to you it won't work. Until you try it you won't know. It depends on the adaptability of your child and how well the two schools work together and with you. The are some trade offs to attending two schools but I felt the gains far outweighted the losses. The key I was told was to take it slowly in the way you increment into the other school. Good Luck. I would go for it.

Thank you that is really helpful and a real success story. I can understand the comment about thier being some drawbacks to having two places-DD attended two pre schools for a year and it was hard for them with paperwork and things like school events I felt torn on as Icouldn't attend everything.

But from what you are saying I am still very keen-not sure how to go about it as am wary of telling the wrong person (paranoid!) in case it messes up the extra hours we've applied for. I think long term I have always known dd would struggle in mainstream and I don't want to sit back and watch her confidence drop.

I suspect the LEA would expect her to try the 30 hours one to one we've applied for though? Should hear back about that soon.

You could start by seeing everything available, dual placement are most common in reverse to yours so the children would be at SS integrating to MS. The big problem I could see is that there is a demand for SS places so for children who need SS and not MS would jump ahead of you. You would be wise to enquire just for SS to see how the land lies where you are, see if there are units and play your cards close to your chest.

Thanks , I think if push came to shove and I liked the one I have in mind I still think DD is more suitable for (the right) SS than MS. The one I have heard may have children with similar needs told me that we are in catchment but we are the same county its just they only take from a few villages and ours isn't one of them. I know of parents not in catchment who go though.

So is the best thing to see if I can get in to have a look around first of all? I have already complained officially that we have no speech and language units in the county which is where she would undoubtedly be if they did so don't want to annoy people any more-though it still shocks me that parents have to keep quiet about these things when all I want is DD to be somewhere suitable for her, my gut feeling is to keep quiet for now.

I was told DD is a "mainstream child" but this was by the same person who told me not to apply for a statement as she may not need it-DD had just being assessed as being around 20months in terms of language understanding and expression at the time aged 4 and a half so I just think it depends on provision.

I know it shouldn't but with 30 hours esp if that is 1:1 will work for you with regards to SS. I was told DS2 was not severe enough for SS at the beginning now I am being told he maybe to severe for the SS he is in now. They tell you with school roll numbers in mind.

Its frustrating isn't it. I had no idea it was like this. I think we will try the 30 hours and see how we get on but its seeming increasingly silly when DD's needs are so different to most of the other children and the beginning to transition into year one has made me realise just how hard this could get. And if they refuse the 30 hours I will have to think again. I also want to know the other options so will see if I can at least view the school I have in mind soon just in case.

Just wondering about this again and whether there is someone impartial (!) I could speak to or even if I should speak to our statementing officer (AFTER they get back to us about the 30 hours of course!) to see what I would need to do. I do want to try DD with the extra hours and she of course hasn't tried year one yet which is the major concern (how on earth will a child who functions at probably a 3 year old level for most areas cope with sitting down in lessons etc it terrifies me) but otoh if she was to move anywhere then after summer hols would make more sense due to having had a gap. Which is probably unrealistic time frame wise I know.

Have you got a good senco at the school as that was who got me an appointment to look round Ss. She also came with me for a second look. We liked it but I was still unsure so did a dual placement which started Jan , only took a short time to see that she it was better for her. From April she has been going full time. I found in year 1 the gap just got to big and the school couldn't do enough for my dd. I think you should look at some Ss and see what you think. Good luck

Thanks happyday, can I ask is the SS near the mainstream? And does the LEA pay for taxis or do you take her?

We have a lovely SENCO at school I think I will wait till she hears back about the 30 hours then tell her my thoughts. I feel I need to try the 30 hours but ultimately, DD will struggle with year one and it isn't going to be developmentally appropriate for her.

Sorry I forgot to reply.
No the ss isn't near ms and dd could have transport but I like to take her as she's not been there long .
I found year one really difficult dd had full time TA an excellent one but she wasn't qualified for ss . With dd being so behind it just got impossible to stay there. We tried dual placement but it was confusing for her and she was getting upset at both schools. The biggest problem was dd lack of speech . Hope you get sorted and find the best school for your dd

I can understand that about taking your DD.

Our biggest problem is speech too, DD can speak but its very unclear and odd sentence formation, very low level for her age.

Sounds like your DD is in the right place, I will definately be trying to get an appointment to meet the head at ss.This week its got worse as DD is now leaking urine so wearing pads to school, feels like it never ends! Thank you for the advice I think year one will be a massive challenge for dd and am keen to have a plan.

Yes the lack of speech doesn't seem to matter so much in reception because it's still a bit like nursery with plenty of play things . My dd is still in nappies and she could never stay for lunch as she only eats certain things the ms wouldn't allow. We love the ss it's such a caring environment and we get so much feed back. Wish we had gone there sooner ! Every thing is there physio speech therapy OT.we even had our pead app there. Most people say to try to keep children in ms inclusion looks good on paper, but when your sending a child to school with toddler abilities it doesnt happen. I will add though that things may have been slightly better at a different ms.
Am hoping your dd is in a good ms that cares about special needs

Your SS sounds lovely-must be a relief to have your DD's needs understood, I just feel I don't know what I am doing with regards to DD some days so would love a school with experience of children with issues like hers.

I agree inclusion is a really tricky one, I worry that my DD is just at a different developmental stage to the others and that makes it impossible , however well meaning they are.

And they are great, really supportive which will make it diffcult to leave behind, especially having moved here to be near the school. But I think I will know she had a good mainstream chance if that makes sense, I think year one will be the test and so much depends on individual teachers.