Choosing a school..

[kmummy]

I'm in the process of looking at schools for my DS who has autism for next September. Portage are currently sorting the application for his statement. The thing is I have two ds's already in school. The plan was to start ds3 there with hopefully 1:1 support. His social and communication skills are on the severe end according to his assessment. I'm just torn, I feel guilty at the thought of separating him from his brothers plus he would have to go by transport as I can't be at two places at once.

I don't know what to do for best, I'm just so worried by sending him to his brothers school he may not get all the help he needs and I'm just setting him up to fail? The other school has a speech and language unit attatched so I'm thinking he will get far more support, but I just can't shake this guilt.

What would you do?

If you want to know what I did - it was separate my DCs.

Bee has gone by transport to a school that can provide her the specialised support she requires for a few years now, DS has been in his local community school with the support he needs mostly adequately provided there. In fact, like your DCs, they never went to the same school.

For me, I think it might have been harder if they had been at the same school and than had to be separated, but Bee's needs have been such that she has always needed to be in a specialised setting with access to a therapeutic unit. While we have always technically had "choice" in where she attends school, to be able to get the most out of her academically and therapeutically, the choice was pretty evident.

With that said, it was still tough to do, logistically and emotionally...

"Portage are currently sorting the application for his statement"

Was wondering why they are doing this. I ask only as such people could well sit on such an application for ages without doing anything.

It can take at least 6 months to get a statement set up even if the LEA do agree to assess (your first hurdle). You could well be better off applying for the statement directly to the LEA as you can then appeal in the event they say no. Portage cannot do that. You do not need anyone's permission to make such an application yourself.

Use IPSEA's website to apply which is www.ipsea.org.uk and arm yourself too with the SEN code of practice (available online).

Feeling guilty will get you nowhere so sod feeling guilty. You want to send him to the best school you can and one that will best suit his additional needs, that sounds like the one with the language unit attached. What's to feel guilty about?. OK he will be at a different school to his brothers and DS will need transport to access this school - but if your DS gets on okay at his school then that is a small price really to pay. You are truly your child's best - and only advocate.

Maybe I need to stop the emotion. I just find it very hard that I will never take him to school, pick him up, et to know the teachers that will care for him. He just seems so small to be going alone everyday.

Portage have been really good as far as I can tell, they already arranged for the educational pyc to come to his pre school for assessment (in December) is that normal? I have no idea how the application works, They said the assessment needs to be done first.

I would start apply for a statutory assessment now. You don't need an EP beforehand and the fact that one is coming in December means that he/she will be able to be involved in the process even if you send off your letter today.