Need advice on best school setting for my child who has language disorder

[sleepyhorse]

Hi really need some advice....

my son who is 4 has a severe speech and language disorder (and also sensory probs - struggles with proprioception and vestibular) He currently goes to a mainstream with a language unit where he has been receiving support since September with speech therapy and some OT. We also do VBA at home a few times a week where a fantastic tutor comes to deliver the sessions and i must say he has made so much progress. Its the best thing that has happened to him!

In his recent annual review at school, it was felt that whilst he has made good progress since starting school, his language is so disordered that they are worried that come next Sep when the kids access the national curriculum that they won't be able to meet his needs and said he would benefit from going to Meath school (a language specialist school in Surrey). We went to have a look at this school which is lovely and has great facilities and staff (they have 10 kids per class and a speech therapist and LSA in each class plus they all get OT) But I'm just not sure.

My concerns are firstly it's nearly an hours drive to get there, I know that LA would provide transport but its still 2 hours in a car every day. Also I'm just concerned that he's not going to have the right role models to help develop his social skills (especially as he is a child who copies his peers) as all the kids have significant language difficulties. And finally I have heard its difficult to go back into mainstream should we decide to do so in a couple of years.

I guess my other option is to send him to a local mainstream and fight to get him full time VBA support. As he would then get the best of both worlds.

But just confused and overwhelmed. Such a big responsibility trying to decide what type of school is best for him.

I just wondered if anyone has any good advice having had a similar experience?? What are pro's and cons of both?

Thanks for reading

Thanks for all your comments. Yes I know that I'm really lucky to be offered Meath and its not that I'm not grateful, it's just that I am finding it quite stressful deciding what type of provision is best for my child. Especially when different professionals tell you different things re your child's prognosis. That's why I thought I would ask you lovely ladies who have kids with speech and language difficulties re your own experiences with schools etc. My son's language disorder is pretty significant but he's making so much progress with the VBA we're doing at home and I think that's possibly why its making it even harder to make a decision. Thanks again!

It might be the recent progress that has made school realise how much he's capable of. They don't usually notice failure to educate dc with significant SN, as they've been encouraged to have low expecations of them.