How to know if a school wants your kid or not?

[zumbaleena]

I am going in circles with a school I like - this is choosing a school for dd for reception entry next year. The HT seemed nice and inclusive when we met her. She thought dd was ok too....her only point was how much support/LSA hours funding she will get. I offered to bring my daughter again for an interaction with the Reception CT to see if the CT thought she will be fine in that school.

Some of the others I visited were just outright no to ABA and go see some autisitic unit based school...so even though they were outstanding, they went out of my choice list.

You have your answer, the first HT sounds willing as does the CT and had you back to see the reception class. The HT is correct that the level of success will depend on your dd's level of support and to this end she seems to be aware of the process involved (you'd be surprised how many HTs don't)

If you are turning up at a school and from the off they are blocking you and suggesting alternatives, then that's not the place for your dd - if they have a negative view this will most likely persist if she joins the school. This could have a disasterous impact on your dd and most likely result in a lengthy and exhausting battle with the school and you may end up moving her ultimately.

Lastly try not to judge a school by their Ofstead rating. I've seen some truely horrendous supposedly outstanding schools treat their SEN children with such contempt that it beggars belief! To me Ofstead largely indicates a school who have managed to dot all the i's and cross all the t's on time for a pre-planned inspection. Schools are so much more than an Ofstead grading.

Good luck!