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Original poster

A question about special schools

31 replies

sphil · 14/02/2007 19:47

This is for those of you who have children at special schools, especially children with ASD. Which of these schools would you choose, if you had to do so?

School 1: Lots of children very similar to your own child, with a good number of kids who are more verbal and social (ie good role models). Teaching OK but not outstanding.

School 2: Most children have more severe difficulties than your child. Not as much interaction between them. Teaching outstanding.

???????
I know it's a hard question but would appreciate your thoughts. Thanks

OP posts:
moondog · 14/02/2007 19:48

2
I'm a salt with people with LD

What makes you think teaching outstanding?

PeachyClairColouredRoses · 14/02/2007 19:51

Hmm, 2 tbh

would love to know the school names as will know them.

Feel free to CAt LOL!

Socci · 14/02/2007 19:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
sphil · 14/02/2007 21:00

Socci - neither are ASD specific but School 1 has more children on the autistic spectrum than school 2.

Moondog - your question really made me think. Ofsted have judged school 2 'outstanding' and school 1 'good'. Despite being a teacher by profession and knowing how misleading Ofsted reports can be, I'm still influenced! I've done a morning's observation at both schools and I would say that in school 2 the teaching and atmosphere was more orderly and organised. Aims were very clear and each child was given a fair turn to achieve within their capabilities. The teaching in school 1 was more creative but also more disorganised. I didn't feel that the teacher always had a clear idea of where she wanted the lesson to go and some children (the higher achieving ones) were given more attention than others. There was quite a lot of jumping around from activity to activity. Having said all that the children were all engaged and enjoying themselves in school 1 - much more so than in school 2. I just don't know how much was being learnt.

Peachy - I'll CAT you. Don't want to be too specific about schools on here (think I may have been on other threads but will delete. Don't want to shoot poor DS2 in the foot with the teachers before he even starts!)

OP posts:
Joggeroo · 14/02/2007 21:56

I'd put the Ofsted report away and take off your teacher hat and tune in to where you think your child will be happy & thrive (in all areas of life) rather than survive.
We chose our son's special school because it 'felt right', not very scientific for and education professional and a scientist! but we're convinced it was the right chioce.

Fubsy · 14/02/2007 22:07

Have you visited and felt the atmosphere? I visit schools, SN and MS in my job and there's been some which were supposed to be great that I just didnt get good vibes from. very subjective and emotional I know, but I wouldnt send any child to a school I didnt feel happy about, regardless of the Ofsted.

nikkie · 14/02/2007 22:22

Go with your instincts!

2shoes · 14/02/2007 22:29

we looked into moving dd a while back. so we looked ito secondry.
the secondry school we looked at was FANTASTIC. it was amazing.
but if we sent dd there she would have gone from being one of the more able children to one of the less able.
the school was much bigger than her so didn't have the family feel.
and she would have had to baord.
after loads of soul searching we kept he where she was. her school is rated as high as the other but it suits her.
Don't know if this help.

moondog · 14/02/2007 22:40

Sphil,was nodding eagerly at all you said until I came to the bit about children being more 'happy and engaged' in school 1.
That makes you stop and think eh?

I don't really know if I would be swayed by Ofsted reports even.Quite often,the inspector will have no background ion special needs and if this is the case,my feeling is that the report counts for nothing.

Jimjams2 · 14/02/2007 22:42

I've replied to your email in quite a bit of detail, but t answer this question...... In this I'd say school 2 - teaching is important, peer role models less so in the early years of autism........

but I still say what I said in my email- Move here

Jimjams2 · 14/02/2007 22:46

Were the children more engaged because they were higher funtioning though???? SOmething the head said to us in the school I emailed you about that we didn't like was that we needed to look for children like ds1 and see how they were functioning within the class- so we did and foudn that they were then ones barricaded in the corner of the classsroom, or sat staring at worksheets with zero comprehension- and when he asked if we'd seen children like ds1 - ti was then that he said "oh very low functioning then" !!!! it was a useful bit of advice though as it did show us that that school was not for ds1. So look for a ds2 - or as many ds2'[s as you can see in the school and see how they're getting on- that will tell you whether its right or not.

moondog · 14/02/2007 22:48

Yes,very good point.
It is worth muttering constantly
'Appearences can be deceptive'

PeachyClairColouredRoses · 14/02/2007 22:49

That's what I figured Sphil LOL- why I suggested CAT!

Original poster
sphil · 14/02/2007 23:28

Thanks all. Peachy - have CATed you.
JJ - will go and read your e-mail now. Yes, the kids like DS2 I saw at school 1 were involved in the activities (with some tuning out, as you would expect). There certainly wasn't any barricading in corners or unsuitable work - but there was quite a bit of 'dead time' while the more able children were given extension work.

OP posts:
Original poster
sphil · 14/02/2007 23:34

JJ - haven't got your e-mail . But have got your reply to CAT Peachy - thanks!

Think I'm going to have a sleepless night over all this. DS1 spent a morning in the m/s school next to school 1 and loved it. Added complications!

OP posts:
FioFio · 15/02/2007 08:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Jimjams2 · 15/02/2007 08:19

Have you got it???

Jimjams2 · 15/02/2007 08:23

the email that is!

PeachyClairColouredRoses · 15/02/2007 10:20

Wondering which MS school it is next to school 1? can't find it on the internet.

Have a friend down there who works for the local authority I could e-mail- do ask if you want

2shoes · 15/02/2007 11:58

sphil can you please email me on
[email protected]
please

Original poster
sphil · 15/02/2007 16:35

JJ - yes have got it and replied. At length .

Peachy - it begins with B and is the name of an old soap opera .

2shoes - will e-mail you!

OP posts:
Jimjams2 · 15/02/2007 20:18

Hmm haven't got the reply...... Our email systems are incompatible - I'll look out for it!

onlyjoking9329 · 15/02/2007 21:17

i think this is a difficult one, i think a lot depends on gut feelings and how the staff team are and also finding kids like your own child, i think i would be tempted to go for school one if you are wanting to do split placement with the MS next door, i chose my kids school by seeing how the kids that were similar to mine fitted in and if i could picture them there and could see other children they could make friends with.
i knew the moment i walked into the school that it was the right one.

Original poster
sphil · 15/02/2007 22:12

My initial instinct was that school 1 was the right one, but now I've actually sat in for the morning I'm not as sure. But then exactly the same thing happened with school 2 as well! I think that I'm looking for the perfect school for DS2- and maybe that doesn't exist.

I e-mailed the head of school 1 this morning with a few more questions and asked if we could have a meeting early next term to discuss coordinating DS2's home programme with school. How they respond will be crucial to our decision, I think. (I'll be the one whose photo they'll be using as a dartboard in the staffroom)

OP posts:
PeachyClairColouredRoses · 16/02/2007 16:01

Oh I know that one, we sued to tkae their pupilos when I worked at Strode college.

Yep, would have no qualms about sending my kids there either!