Private schools and statements

[disorganisedmummy]

Does anyone have a child either on the spectrum or has dyspraxia who attends a private school and has a statement? I ask as our ds is going to be assessed at the Lorna Wing centre in a couple of weeks and if (that's a big if) they recommend that he be statemented I was wondering how it works in an independent school.I might at that the school have been amazing with the support that they give ds b ut although on paper he is where he should be in all areas except writing they have said he has difficulties processing information and other issues (Possible Aspergers).

If anyone can give any advice I would be very grateful.

Lots of indie schools have lots of kids with statements. The small classes can make delivering the more detailed provision much easier than in mainstream.

But when it comes to SALT and OT therapy that might be needed weekly then you may find yourself paying for it. The LA will take the view that their mainstream school can meet all dc's needs and the SALT and OT can be provided by the NHS.

I have heard of one or two cases where the LA paid for indie school, just because it was cheaper than their special school. Both were cases where mainstream had been tried and failed.

At the other end, some indie schools are incredibly snooty about SEN and can be really awkward, so it is horses for courses really.

DS is at a private prep school and has dyspraxia. The school prides itself on providing an education for every child - there are private schools who will get children who are not passing exams to leave, SN or not, so you need to choose your school. The class sizes are small and the day highly structured - this provides certainty and routine for DS which is helpful. He needs to struggle on with Latin for a bit which is not good and I have a meeting with the head later in the term when I will push to get this dropped ASAP. The SENCO is a bit work shy in my view and i need to be on her like a hawk. Also she does not seem to know much about the resources which are available and we have had to do our own research a lot. Her default option is we should pay for stuff - this is the private sector default option to be fair- so I found out myself and told her how to refer us to NHS OT support. As a generalisation I think SENCO support in private schools is less good than the state sector, but it all depends on the individual - she is good at spotting dyslexics and there is a boarding school they tend to go to when they are old enough. We are new to the dyspraxia diagnosis but I think I need to be my child's champion regardless of private/state sector schooling.

If you have amazing support where you are I suggest you stay there...

Some children with statements have places in independents paid for by LAs. These are normally as a result of a hard-fought battle by the parents to prove they can't get the necessary support in a state school but I presume this isn't what you mean? These kids invariably have had years of failure within the state system first.

If your kid is at an independent school already, the school has (as far as I am aware) no obligation to meet the statemented provision though they do have an obligation to make reasonable adjustment for disabilities. How much the school does will depend on the school. If they seek to attract pupils principally through academic achievement then they tend to be disinterested in helping anyone not meeting their academic goals and will push them out. You can often get better support within the state system. So much depends on the school and the teachers/management in it.