Where Are The Best & Worst Services (UK) For Children With Special Needs (Autism)

[JAKEJEM]

Hi all, I have a 4 year old son with ASD and was just wondering where in the UK were the best services overall (i.e. SALT, OT, Social Services etc etc) as we are due to move. Also, what are waiting lists like in these area's? Many thanks, Nikki.

we are in brum near the border for worcestershire, it took a while for HV to listen that there was a problem with ds, we then had to wait a while or an appointment at the child and family center but once we got it eveything went really fast including ds statement, ds is now at a SN school that only take on ASD children and hes doing fab there,

i think where ever you move to you will allways have to fight tooth and nail to get the help your child needs

I wouldn't advise Somerset at all, there is BIBIC right on your doorstep and brainwave, but I never yet met a Somerset family with a child on the spectrum that didn't find everything so frustrating and unavailable.

Accordingt o the NAS, here is very good if you have a child a bit further up the spectrum, South Wales, and tat would equate with what I have seen- our issues are with a particular school. The word on the street however () is that the best place is Rhonnda cynon taf (sp?) as friends family there have services all but thrown at them.

Where i live in the North West of uk it is pretty pants really.

You have to fight for everything and trying to get anyone to listen to your concerns is another battle altogether.

Thats why we ended up going private.

It's a bit of a mixture here in Cambs. The CDC is excellent and the waiting list to see the Paed was/is relatively short (3 months for a Paed appointment and 3 months for a full assessment). The SALT is also excellent but there's a bit of a wait to get help (about 6 months with ds1, although it was much faster with ds2). OT is a nightmare. Ds1 went on the waiting list at 3.5yrs and finally got to the top not long before his 6th birthday.

His school (mainstream primary) is excellent but I've heard mixed views about the special schools. No experience with SS though so can't comment on that.

Poole, Dorset has a very good CDC unit at the hospital. The waiting list is not too bad, but we haven't had any appt with SALT or OT yet. (DD has been recently diagnosed (in Oct this year) so didn't know much about waiting list.) Do agree with redbullandbump that whereever you are, you will have to fight tooth and nail for help.

We're in Brighton and from speaking to friends outside the area I think it is pretty good. We definitely have better provision for most things than West or East Sussex, just outside Brighton, at least for school and early years, but haven't used SALT or OT. No probs at all with getting free big nappies etc, and units in mainstream as well as special schools with separate asd units. But we lived here BC so can't really compare. I've also always liked that it's so full of various characters that we're often not the wierdest people on the streets when we go out! Good luck wherever you go.

Yes I'm in Brighton and the more I read about other areas, the more I realise how lucky we are here. There have been no problems getting nappies, buggy and car harness for ds and his school is wonderful (he's in ASD unit). We were going to move to Somerset but didn't dare!

I don't think most places are either "good" or "bad". My experience is that services are variable, even within the same area. I have had a generally good experience with the London Borough of Camden but I know others who think its rubbish. Ditto LB Barnet, Haringey, Brent. Some good experiences and some bad. I suppose that should be considered a good thing as each case should be judged on its own merits but I think it owes more to luck, i.e. which professionals you get allocated, and your own approach and how you deal with those professionals. Living in fairly central London means that we have access to lots of SN/ASD activities, groups and charities for play schemes, holiday clubs etc and lots and lots of potential staff (often students) who want to work with our kids.
Actually, I don't think I could get better services and support from the statutory bodies and professionals but, like most, I've had to work at it and learn to bite my tongue sometimes!

Hi all, and thanks for all your wonderful replies. I guess it really does depend on which professionals you get etc etc. We are thinking about a move to Oxfordshire so will try and get more info in that area. Many thanks for all your replies, much appreciated. Nikki. X

Blimey Peachy and Pixel - we're moving from East Sussex to Somerset mainly beause of schools for DS2 (and have family there). Now you're worrying me! We felt that the area we're thinking of (Yeovil) seemed to be much more ASD-friendly than where we are atm, in that there are more special schools, more liaison between special and mainstream, more support groups etc. What we haven't gone into really is services. Tell me more...before we put our house on the market...

Oops- sorry Sphil!

Yeovil Sn schools are pretty fab, from what i recall people telling me. My issues, and those of several famillies I worked with who had ASD kids (homestart in bridgwater) were with the Paeds at Musgrove. Frankly, the one we had was rude, dismissive and refused to make any form of referral or help in any way whatsoever. That was a commn experience across that hospital though, I have to say. After all that was the place where Sam and I nearly died from pre-eclampsia when nobody believed I was ill. Somerset LEA was also renowned for being slow moving, a child of a friend who had severe ASD almost lost his place at the fab West Huntspill ASD unit because of delays.

Saying that, Yeovil (well, South Petherton) is on our list of places for when I finish Uni- it depends on whether I go on to Exeter or Bristol (and that all depends on if I ever get well enough to go back to Uni )

We loved Fiveways in Yeovil - great Headteacher. South Petherton v high on our list of favoured places to move - we could be neighbours! Also thinking of the Dorset side of Yeovil - Sherborne, Bradford Abbas etc -but guess it would be a nightmare dealing with two LEAs, even if they let DS2 go to a Somerset school if we were living in Dorset! It's all going to be a bit messy - DS2's statement not even through here yet, then we have to forward it to Somerset, when it has to be approved again (this is the bit that worries me) and only then can we apply for schools. But first we have to sell our house and get an address in the catchment area...

We've had mixed experiences at Musgrove too, but only A+E. At least we've had all the dx and Early Yrs services done here. Hopefully we won't need the paed too much (touching wood as I type)

Do let me know when you get down there- we go back most weeks, Ilminster usually, South petherton almost every weekend in the summer.

Sorry being misleading there. I've no secret info specific to Somerset, just meant that We'd realised Brighton was pretty good and that anywhere else would be a risk, especially with ds being so settled in his school.

well i live in between lancaster and blackpool aand i have to say ours have been great i never had to ask for a statment it was just done and the school he is due to start next sep are brilliant all in all i cant really complain ( but we will see if that changes when school starts)

ooh Oxfordshire....not a great idea. We are really shocked by some of the provision we have seen for children with ASD.

Hi Shey, please tell me more about Oxfordshire before we move there!!!!! Nikki X

Wherabouts in Oxfordshire are you looking at? North...south etc. Oxfordshire are completely wedded to inclusion. Special schools and units being faded out. The Autistic units we saw were very weak. Having said that, there are some great people out there and we are battling away to get what we want. Legal threats do seem to work!

I've just read your original message. We are about to embark on finding an OT. Will let you know what waiting lists are like.

I live in the North West too Jenks and it is hit & miss really, out hv is brilliant and tries to get everything sorted but it's mainly brick walls. Nursery and SENCO spot on too. OT not so bad want to help but red tape.