Best area to live in terms of Autism support

[KateGrey]

We’re in North Essex. Both children have ehcps and ft 1:1 (Though youngest is being massively discriminated against in mainstream and is off to ss). Our LA have been okay but are very hard to get hold of and have done little to hold the school (we’ve been told by 3 separate professionals - they’re negligent and obstructive) to account.

Our nearest ss is an hour away.

What’s your LEA like?

Norfolk is exactly the same. Lots and lots of special schools in Norwich itself but heavily oversubscribed- 20 children applying per 1 place.

My son attends a complex needs school in Norwich and he travels 25 miles each way (in a taxi with an escort) to get there. He’s 5. He’s very happy there though and the school is amazing.

We had to fight tooth and nail to get him an ehcp and a place there. He has autism and learning disabilities.

Awful isn’t it. We have considered a move for Surrey but it’s so expensive even compared to our expensive town. All special schools locally here are oversubscribed. Also think the problem is more money needs to be put into mainstream.

We're in Hertfordshire. They have a terrible reputation which is totally merited. It comes to something when the autism lead ( who you initially think is there to help) lies at Tribunal to do the LA's dirty work.

@amunt oh my god that’s dreadful! We border Herts and I’d never move into that county though we have put in for a Herts school via Essex

I actually think it’s pretty much the same all over the country. There is a serious lack of special needs provision.

We're in Somerset. It's a nightmare trying to get help in school or getting into ss but support groups are good.

It’s awful isn’t it. Essex haven’t been bad in all fairness to them but it seems all places are crying out for more special provisions.

Derby and Derbyshire are both crap. You would think they had never even heard of the Children & Families Act.

Nearly two years Pauline Latham MP stood in Parliament and lambasted both LAs for failing children and young people with autism and their families.

www.paulinelatham.co.uk/news/pauline-latham-calls-more-support-people-autism-and-their-families

From what I hear, they haven't got any better.

Our council are quick enough to allow tons of houses to be built and to gain council tax but it’s shocking.

We're in islington and I have to say they're pretty amazing. We have an EHCP despite my DS doing very well in his early years setting and since starting reception. The people we have worked with (OT, SLT) have gone out of their way to support us, even when we were discharged from their service, visiting him in school and helping me with various requests. It's one reason we won't move out of our tiny flat and into a bigger house in a cheaper area as I just don't feel confident we would get the same support

Were in surrey luckily school are very very supportive of my boys and both get because they bloody need 121 neither has and ehcp one has been turned down , a massive shock to everyone involved were appealing but the council believe he needs less support... But when he has less support he is very disruptive angrey and violent little boy ... With support he is a clever funny and valued member of class .

The school are trying to put of an ehcp for his twin as his behaviour is not as bad and if you give him access to any book he is quiet and no trouble as they don't feel it would be accepted.

North West here and it is dire. absolutely dire.

MrsAD, same experience of lovely OTs in the Northern. (Islington) I'm mid EHCP at the moment and it looks like we're about to get shafted. I really hope not, but I'm suddenly very scared.

We're thinking of moving to Barnet or Haringey, because school (an Academy, and not actually in Islington) is going very badly, so we feel like we've nothing to lose.

I think academies are the worst for children with Sen unless you get a good one. They seem to be able to get away with anything

Kate, I strongly suspect you're right.

I hate how much you're allowed to sink or swim once diagnosed. Why can't there be help with school choice?

Anyway, having fucked it up once, any views on Our Lady of Muswell or any school around that way would be good!

Leeds.

Not sure if they are great, but seem to be the least worst.

We live in Southwark and honestly our school has been amazing. Have had suppprt for 2 out of 3 children even without diagnosis (just because of concerns and school seeing that support really helped the children). Once it became clear we needed referral for assessment it was done within 2 days. I feel really lucky and well supported. I know that not all parents fell this way at the school (ASD provison is great, support for hearing loss is less well organised). Tho I have to say, the school relies heavily on 2 volunteers and an amazing pair of TAs. So I can see why it’s patchy, because the provision isn’t council-wide.

School have been amazing, council less so. East Yorkshire way here. Two boys with ASD, one with EHCP and a 1:1.

I'm Hampshire. I'd say they are shocking in a way - therapists are amazing though and so is ds current school.

Mostly I think our issues are funding (as most places!) and a high level of staff long term absence. Add that to some areas having a high level of academies and your fooked!

I wouldn't say there is a shortage of specialist provision - but rather limited specialist provision and so many children end up best fit or floundering in MS until they break and la finally concede an EHCP which takes a year whilst Child is in PRU.

Doncaster here. Not great at all. The rely on parents not knowing the SEN code. We went down the sendist route and they caved 8 months later at mediation before it got to tribunal. All of the special schools are full here so most kids flounder in ms unless parents have a bit of oompf to do down the appeal route.
We originally started out in East Yorks before moving here and the LEA were fab. Full 1:1 statement quickly in place with no issues whatsoever. The school however was shocking.

The main issue seems to be the schools! Ours is dire and it’s so disappointing that kids needs aren’t being met.