Secondary School - Essex (Brentwood area) -Advise

[AllAboardTheMagicBus]

can anyone offer advise and recommendations?

We are looking at schools for DS (ASD, ADD, Sensory) who is high functioning but with ADD, lacking organisation, constant motivation, in need of laptop as difficulty with writing etc.

As all parents, we are now in the throws of checking secondary schools and my head is about to explode

How do you pick the right one? Does anyone on here have children with SEN who go to any of these schools that can recommend the support they've received from the SEN team/departments?

I know its child specific, each child is different etc, but any help/feedback on experiences would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks

MS or SS?

Currently looking at MS, not sure SS is right but then again worried about not coping, bullying and him standing out by his different intonation when speaking. Then whether SS will work on his academic ability or mainly social...

yes, it's difficult, isn't it..sorry only know SS from other parent's, not MS

Does your DS have a statement?.

Brentwood is quite a large area all told, are you looking at schools in any particular area?.

Yes, DS has 22hrs currently, but will be pushing for more.

All for our catchment - St Martins, Anglo European, Brentwood County, Shenfield, and Becket Keys

Transport might be a problem for Anglo and Becket apparently don't offer any one to one, no designated support, no assistance between classes etc!

We are visiting all anyway

Have heard good things generally about Shenfield (got to know one of the TAs there) and St Martins.

Would personally avoid any school who put prior obstacles in your way even before visiting (ie Becket and Anglo European; think both these are private schools and thus operate outside the LEAs remit).

At the moment, struggling to get communication with the SENCO at St Martins, and have in the past as our other child also attends there. Not filling me with confidence on the SEN side, albeit a good school otherwise.
Anglo is a state school but haven't been to before, due to visit it though - think would entail driving DS there and back. Shenfield, visited a couple of years back and buildings are very old and echoey, plus seemed to lack discipline/structure when looking in compared to other schools - might have changed! Then the SEN side seem accommodating so far, swings and roundabouts....

Argh I need too much thinking

St Martins is a reasonably good state school but know nothing about the SEN side. (Also its a bloody long way along that road!!!).

Shenfield school has got better in recent years (they've done a lot of work on the place) and have heard good things overall about their SEN department.

I would personally go for a place that has a good SEN ethos and department. Would not personally touch AE with a pole given in mind their barriers already to potential entry. Such a stance never improves once the child is in school either.

Have some indeed and let us know how you get on.

bump

Update

Becket Keys: wouldn't touch with a barge pole re: SEN. Negative, non accommodating, rigid in views...

St Martins: again, SEN communication is shocking!

Anglo: good SEN, had some therapies that will be useful, accommodating, good communication. Only down fall is the travel and language ethos that's tilting me away. Might visit with DS to rule out for definite.

Shenfield: very positive, accommodating, good communication, brilliant SENCO - will revisit with DS but still concerned re: buildings, layout and the noise. On first visit, ready to learn all about DS...

BCHS: excellent comms, ticked a lot of boxes, SENCO not as smooth talking as Shenfield but seemed to know her stuff and very accommodating. Only one who offered a steady transition with support. Will revisit with DS.

We need to compile a pros and cons table whilst matching up what is/isn't offered against his statement but I think we are swaying in one direction.

Now for some and before putting my back on.

Hi, which did you go for in the end and are you still happy with your choice?

I've just moved to Billericay and my DS is Year 6 this year with statement for ASD, so am looking sround for mainstream secondary.

Thanks x