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Statements at private school

10 replies

Stressedtothehilt · 07/01/2014 19:58

Hi all, dd1 struggling at school with friendships and it all seems a bit much this last few terms. She's currently in year 5. Have been thinking a lot lately about secondary and panicking slightly..... She has ADHD. Unmedicated and not stateMented but struggles non the less.

Anyway, a friend mentioned that she had looked at an Indy school for her boy who has AS traits as it does bursaries (I know that all Indy schools do) and does a lot for SEN. It's normal private school for boys and girls and does very well in exam results but it has a section for kids with sen.

On looking at their website it seems they seem to specialise a fair bit in dyslexia, dyspraxia, aspergers, dyspraxia and to a degree ADHD and also g&t and encourages people to go for a no obligation visit. It also states funding is available from various charities and from charities. It also states that the first they do after a visit is do an assessment for a statements of SEN. Also seems they have their own ed psych

So my question is this. Does this seem too good to be true? The school generally has a very good reputation. Dd has never ever been offered any support so would they help her here??

My friend said she that basically fees are reduced if your child is stateMented there would this be correct and is this why they statement so quick after your child starts? What happens if your statement doesn't go through?? Just a bit confused really as would be very interested in it for dd but couldn't afford it unless she got in on a bursary or a statement. Not sure how things in a private school really. Ut I know she could really do with smaller class sizes. She is very talented in sports thanks

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zzzzz · 07/01/2014 20:49

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Stressedtothehilt · 07/01/2014 20:54

Thanks zzzzzz I will give them a ring tomorrow its right near where I work too and would be perfect. Fingers crossed....and they do have cute straw boaters :)

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Stressedtothehilt · 07/01/2014 20:58

I just wondered if a private school have their own ed pysch if that means they can not exactly fiddle the paperwork but cleverly word it to get the results they want when applying for statements

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PolterGoose · 07/01/2014 21:10

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zzzzz · 07/01/2014 21:11

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TOWIE2014 · 07/01/2014 22:17

I talk from bitter experience of having had a DC in a mainstream Ofsted outstanding indie school for 4 years until I had to pull him out to home ed him, before he had a nervous breakdown because of their appalling attempts at "fixing" his SENs. Never, ever again... (This was pre-diagnosis/pre-Statement with full fees & SEN support paid for by myself.)

I would strongly recommend that you look around the school and talk to other parents - including parents who have a child with a similar profile to yours. Don't be taken in by glossy open-days/brochures/bumpf - the existing parents of SEN children will be the ones that can give you a truthful insight. Look at the qualifications of the teachers/therapists. You may be surprised at the lack of qualifications for mainstream subject teachers.

Talk to the SEN teachers and get a feeling for their teaching/therapy methods. Don't be taken in by the small class-size - my DS was in a class size of 15 and they still couldn't cope with his SENs, and the class size was still too big for him.

With regards to fees, it looks as though there's two things going on here a) school bursary (or bursaries) and b) a Statement whereby the LA will pay for the fees of the school.

I can't comment on a) - that's the school's own individual policy. You could talk to the Bursar and they should be able to help you and tell you what options are open to you. Usually bursaries are not for the full amount, it'll be a percentage of the yearly fees - and you will have to meet their criteria.

As for a Statement of Educational Needs, and then the local authority paying the fees... You will be in for one hell of a fight to get this. The LA may agree that your child needs a Statement, but it is highly unlikely that they'll name an indie school without you fighting tooth and nail for it. It is more likely that the LA will name a state mainstream school and, if you are set on an indie school, you will then have to prove that your DC's needs can't be meet at the state school they name. It can be done - it has been by others on this board - but you will be in for a fight.

Indie schools tend to use independent EPs, OTs and SALTs who are likely to have their own independent practice so will be ethically bound by their own "bodies". In my experience, they will be excellent for providing the direct therapy but won't be used to writing reports that can be used to persuade a LA to undertake statutory assessments.

Many indie schools will support children to get a Statement but once the child gets the Statement, some schools will then panic and ask DC to leave (this is what happened to other children at my DC's old indie mainstream school). They do have to put in force anything in a Statement, but you (or the local authority if your DC has a Statement with the indie school named in part 4) will have to meet the additional therapy fees/TA fees/extra fees etc.

However, having said all of that, there are some indie mainstream schools that are very very good with SEN children. But after my appalling experience, I would be very very wary.

Stressedtothehilt · 08/01/2014 06:44

Thank you all really good advice. Towie thanks so much I will definatley give them a ring and go and visit them

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claw2 · 08/01/2014 08:11

Ds attends indi school, who specialise in HFA. Although they quote 'in house specialists' ie OT, SALT, counsellors etc. This amounts to they use indi specialists.

Having 'in house' specialists doesn't amount to access to these services, unless it is specified in a statement.

Before being offered a place at this indi school, ds went for an assessment at the school to see if they could meet his needs. Are you sure the assessment they are offering is for a statement and not just an inhouse assessment of needs?

claw2 · 08/01/2014 08:27

Also I don't see how they can advertise doing an assessment for a statement. Schools don't do assessments for statements, the LA do. Schools can request a statutory assessment.

Stressedtothehilt · 08/01/2014 08:57

Not sure claw I will ask when I ring today thanks for giving me ideas of exactly what to ask

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