Mainstream Private Schoo That Includes SEN kids

[JamMac]

Hi. My DS is a high functioning autistic child who is--able academically but needs a one-to-one shadow for language and behaviour. He is going to be YR1 in the autumn.

His current school is lovely but they don't really have any SEN provisions (e.g., no active SEN coordinator) in place and I think we need to look at other schools. We would look anywhere in Central London, plus Southwest -- eg, Putney, Wandsworth, Battersea ... we are even looking at a school in Kew. The closer to Kensington, the better. Any ideas???? Thank you!!!

Are you planning on paying for the 1-1 yourself, or expecting the school to?

Some private schools are happy to take HFA kids if there are no additional support requirements, but the majority are not.

I wish you well in your search, but you may find it easier to seriously contemplate state. Or use one of the school matching consultants who may know of somewhere.

Common problem though. Sn is fine in private as long as they don't need support, or the parents are willing to pay for it and it isn't too intrusive. Even then some children are asked to leave.

The Good Schools Guide has a SEN box to tick that should bring up private and state schools. As Mad said above Learning Support is a very costly add on, and can mean that a child doesn't have a Statement. This is fine until either you can no longer afford the support or the school can no longer cope. This is usually fine at Prep but senior schools do not always accept the same level of SEN in a private setting, unless they have a specialist LS unit or are affiliated/ISS.

One to one longer term will cost you an absolute fortune and you could almost bankrupt yourselves in the process.

I would apply for a statement from the LEA in which you live now and look at state schools instead. Many private schools are not at all helpful when it comes to children with HFA as madwoman states. Also private schools operate outside of the LEAs remit so you cannot appeal to them either if it all goes wrong.

Jam, there are lots of people in the same situation as you. HFA who are academically able are very poorly catered for here, whereas in other countries they are invested in.

The school you mention do exist, but you will find consequently they are full of HFA children so not really ms at all.

The NAS have a list of schools both state and private that take children with the profile you describe. I think you need to be flexible in your thinking and very likely compromise, and possible change schools once or twice during your child's education.

We have ABA 1:1 support in a mainstream state school and this works very well. The school do not employ the ABA staff they are provided via a private provider. The school and ABA supervisor work together - with the eventual aim that support can be reduced.
However the ABA is funded by the LA (won at tribunal).
Whether you can find a State school to allow you to pay for ABA support I don't know. Most State schools refuse to have ABA staff paid for by parents as the LA think that is just a step to get the LA to fund it (and they don't want to as untrained TAs are much cheaper).
It may be worth posting on Yahoo ABA UK site and asking if anyone has had success getting a mainstream State school to accept a private ABA (or other ASC specialist) 1:1 provided externally.
If you are willing to pay then there is much to be said for keeping your child with their local peers and bringing the support to them
In theory if we all get personal budgets then schools are going to have to open up themselves to parents sending in private support / SALT / OT etc
Our case is also different as DS only goes to school half time - he does the other half of his ABA lessons out of school.

With a statement of sen, you can name any mainstream state school, regardless of catchment area, distance, religious faith, siblings or any of the usual criteria. Some of the academies have dodgy clauses in their funding contracts which let them wriggle out of their duties. But if that's their attitude they're best ignored anyway IMHO.

The child and family practice in Harley street has some advisers specialising in private education options. But you do need to be very careful, if the other customers parents take exception to your dc's additional support needs your dc may be unceremoniously ejected.

Have pm you an idea. A good senco is worth her weight in platinum, never mind gold. But some senco's are actually a major hindrance. A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing when it comes to hfa.

If the current head and class teachers will let you guide provision, that's not to be given up lightly. You can organise educational psychology, SALT and/or specialist teacher advice without the need for a senco.

Just re-read my post and of course you should go the statementing route and get support properly funded - only suggesting private alternative if thats what you want. Given private education will also cost. Another idea is to use LA TA but put in extra training.

Hi. Thanks so much for the replies. School just strongly suggested that my son must leave their school. I am quite literally dazed and confused! We do have a statement for an LA and we have our own tutors that come into the school. We are looking at a state school on Friday but I am concerned that the school may not have room for him and/or they will not accept "outside" LAs. We'll see and happy to report back on any schools I find if anyone out there needs guidance. One tip: Don't even call Hill House!!!

If he has a statement, then you do need to be liaising with the local authority, as any change of school will require a change to the statement (presumably his current school is named on the document). A state school can go over their PAN (or whatever it is called past yr r) for a statemented child, especially if he comes with a ft 1-1. If the ft 1-1 is paid for by the local authority then there will be no problems with a ft 1-1 being provided at school. If he has ABA or whatever the tutors are for on his statement, then they should also be welcome in the state school. Essentially, everything that is in his statement should remain the same, just the named school will change.

If you are paying for the tutors and that provision does not appear in the statement, and it is privately arranged, then it is likely that you might be asked to arrange it for outside of school. You can always ask though. You can ask for the statement annual review to be brought forward with the change of schools, and ask for the ABA or whatever to be included? Tis a long shot, but if it's been working, it's worth a go.

Don't forget that a change to state school should make it easier to access everything sn, not more difficult. it might be worth you calling the LEA and asking to speak with the area inco and asking about advice on schools in the area likely to accept and be suitable.