SLINDON COLLEGE

[MrsGren]

We recently attended an open morning for this school but it was on a weekend so the school wasn't in operation so didn't see the school in action. We hope to organise a taster day for our son but wondered if anyone has a DS there or knows more about it first hand? Thanks.

My son goes to this school. I have never posted before and have registerd with mumsnet just to answer your question. My advice would be please don't get taken in by the beautiful location and everything you are told by the school. You haven't said why you're considering this school for your son? If you decide to send him for a taster, please speak to other parents. Don't just rely on what you're told by the school. Every question we asked they said they were specialist, they said they were experienced in asd. I was completely taken in. I didn't speak to any other parents before my son went there and regret it now. We are not finding it a suitable environment at all. The school seems to have litte or no understanding of autism, there is a lack of staff training and awareness. A quick chat and "read this leaflet" seems to be the extent of it! They actually believe that everyone with autism should present in the same way! Therefore somehow it's my sons fault (or mine!) they don't understand him at all. His behaviour and demeanour has deteriorated since being there. The school takes no notice of anything I say. Not interested in what's working at home, there is no home/school link of any value, no co-ordination between staff, you're left to chase yourself, no learning plan sent home..... The list of inadequacies is endless. I now know that our experience is far from unique and other parents feel the same frustrations on a daily basis. Others have taken their sons away - don't just take my word for it. It must suit some, they are still in business, so hopefully you will hear a positive story as well. I found your post because I was looking on this site for information on alternatives. I'm viewing LVS Hassocks after half term and maybe Northease. You need to make up your own mind, but please don't fall into the trap I did of being sold on a glossy sales pitch. They haven't delivered the goods and its a massive disappointment. You can probably tell I feel bitter and angry about it, so don't just take my word for it. Good luck with whatever you decide for your son in the future.

I've tried to pm you Henestreview says your not set up my Ds goes to northease manor

Reader - is Northease worth looking at? I'd been put off as I'd heard bad reports there?

I wouldn't normally post on such websites but I'm sick of reading such negative things!

My son has been at Slindon for a while now & to be honest I couldn't be happier with the work that the staff have done with my son. He's gone from being from a boy that wouldn't talk, wouldn't want to have friends to a young man who WILL talk & had LOTS of friends & talks about school contently & this is all due to the staff at Slindon.
Any of you find me a school which is perfect?!
That fulfil everything they say?!

Slindon i feel is a family environment & staff have the boys interested at heart!! A MASSIVE example of this which has been proven to me from information from my Son is that he has gone from a boy that hated PE in pervious schools who would never participate in anything would stand & watch & come home & complain that he has to watch another boring game of football! BUT the two PE teachers that Slindon have who I believe are called Mr Pinney & Mrs Map but I have heard boys call her Mrs Charlotte so I'm not sure which is her name but that doesn't matter, these two teacher have taken the time with my son & shown him you don't have to be "good" at something to take part it's about improving your own personal best my son has come home ranting & raving about his PE lessons & that he has been shown how to do X,Y,Z he's scored goals, he's been on a cross country run he's played basketball, he was a captain & that he really enjoying playing badminton with Mrs Map especially when she fell over (poor lady)
PE isn't the only subject he talks about but this is what stands out the most for me as IVE NEVER heard him talk about school in such way!
Slindon has changed my boy & I couldn't be more grateful YES I have a few niggles about the place with communication with staff but at the end of the day my son is happy so this makes me happy!
I think some people need to give the school a break, they all work very hard & what I have seen from other boys they are happy! The Christmas service felt like a family event & that is what Slindon feels to me a family.
All I say to anyone thinking of placing their Son is please give Slindon a try it works for some & clearly not for others, but let's focus on the good of the staff at Slindon I couldn't be happier I have my son back!!

I agree with Jumilla's post. Our son has been at Slindon for a few years and he has struggled with the changes at the school like they don't do music or language lessons anymore unless you pay. As with the other posts, we really like some of the staff who go a long way to help, but as soon as needs touch specialist areas, this help dries up. At the Open Day, we were told they had specialist staff but it turns out they are just contractors or part time TAs unqualified in autism.

We have been trying to get SEAL for our boy but it is taking an age to for them to do a report. Another parent said they have had a bit of SEAL but this was after they went private. It is all very confusing. Can anyone suggest how to get this arranged?

Money seems to be at the heart of it. At the beginning everything was included in the fee now you have to pay extra for additional support. If our son needs OT we can’t afford to pay the extra £1100 and we can't keep going back to the LA. Answer is he doesn't get the specialist help he needs at least not for a year. Another selling point for us was that Slindon didn't accept emotionally disturbed students, they do now and our son has recently had problems with a couple of them, I am disappointed a member of staff suggested it was our son who was at equally to blame - not true and this has been difficult to explain so that he understands.

There are some parents that are ok with Slindon but to be honest we have seen some unhappy ones recently and yet another boy left over Christmas.

I do wish we had asked more questions before we decided and made sure that our LA could cope with the extra items on the invoice.

I would not normally comment on website like this as most of the comments are normally Fake News and the rest is comments from people that have to much time on there hands. Good for you Overtherhill76 for standing up for the school but I also feel sorry for you as BB77 seems to want to attack you for giving a good comment about the school. As for user1467480231 I can only conclude from your comments that you do not have a son at the school because if you did you would not post such damaging comments that are completely false as everyone including the children that are apart of the school know the truth and most of the comments are a form of bullying but hiding behind fake names.

I have had a son at the school and he has done very well as have many many other boys there have, he has been there since year 6 and with the support and encouragement of all the teachers and helpers he is going to get 3 A levels and his english and maths GCSE and has grown up into a very polite young man and is going on to University. Lots of other boys have also gone on to university's and colleges and have become very successful. There are a lot of new young teachers at the school and a lot that have been there a while that bring a lot of experience with them and do a very good job.

I am all for debate and comments but let is be that, don't not pick on people that you know nothing about or comment on what is not true as it is no better than bullying! If you have a problem then you should see the head as he is more than happy to help out if there are any problems, instead of splashing it about on the internet, because you are no better than the bully's on the play ground you just hide behind a fake name.

As for the school, most people that have had son's there would have nothing but good things to say about the school, of course you are going to get one or two that don't, but that is no different to any other school. Most boys are lucky to be there because if they weren't they would be at the back of a class in a state school, label a naughty child, take if from me I know. As for the rest of the comments on this discussion they are made by people that do not even have son's at the school so do not know why they comment.

As for the rest everyone is entitled to there view just don't pick on them for it as whether it is good or bad everyone has a right to there say as long as it is truth and not a witch hunt that is untrue.

Mike I agree with you the school maybe like Marmite but again like the previous positive comments we are condescending which I don't think that is fair at all we are all entitled to our opinion but they have to be facts and that is my point a lot of what people have said on this chat about teachers is NOT fact and therefore why comment, think how the other people feel .... and therefore quite clearly do not have children that go to the school. There are lots and lots of children at the school that do very well and therefore when people say good things about it they are not condescending they are just having there say like myself which I am entitled to and the only reason why I commented was that there are so many untruths on the discussion that I needed to say something. As for pointing out about hiding behind a fake name, I am sure that you and everyone else knows that shaz is a nickname for Sharon, so I am not hiding behind anything unlike a lot of others. We are all entitle to have are say just make sure it is truth and not lie's that's all my point is trying to make and don't say they are condescending when they do so ....... I made a lot of correct statements, as you say on my shop box but they are true and not lies ........... My son when to state school and he was labeled a naughty child and they did not want to know when he first started school at the age of 5 so as you see every school as its good points and bad but they need to FACTS not LIE's ............