ASD school question

[R0ca]

I have a dilemma regarding my ds age 4 and was wondering if anyone had been through something similar. I am wondering which of 2 schools to put him in and the deadline is 3rd May for starting in Sept.

My ds was diagnosed with ASD at a fast-track mini MDA last month, I'm still coming to terms with the diagnosis and I wonder if that is affecting my judgment.

I moved house just before the school admissions results this month and to my surprise he was awarded a place at a very oversubscribed outstanding primary which my NT dd attended very happily for 7 years. This school is now a 20 min drive away. There is also a primary school directly opposite my new house. It is a small village school with a place for ds if I want. The school is rated good but is inferior in sats results, space and resources.

My feeling is that I should send him to the local school but I know that if he was NT I would be driving him to the other school. I'm a newbie to dealing with ASD and education and will probably feel guilty whatever I choose! I'm trying to make a decision without enough time or information.

Sorry it's such an essay, any advice would be appreciated

Thank you ZZZZZ! It's good to hear that a village school catered well for your ds and he was happy there - which is definitely more important than sats. It confirms my gut feeling.

The one other worry I have is that the headmistress at the other school is fantastic and really likes us as a family and knows that ds's problems aren't caused by 'bad parenting' which is an attitude the preschool seems to have despite me keeping them fully up to date with his diagnosis.

I will keep my fingers crossed that this local school is more open minded. They seemed positive about Autism when I went round.

Thanks again!

Can you speak to the sencos at both schools? Try to get a feel of what they can put in place?

"inferior in resources" Does this include staffing resources?

I would ask the question how big the classes are and would they be able to provide 1:1 if necessary.

Saturdayselling I did manage to speak briefly to the senco at the local school but annoyingly she's not available again until after the decision deadline! The other school's senco is new.

Ellie56 class size is currently 18. The inferiority in resources is that there is no specially designed foundation classroom, some years are so small they are taught 2 years together. There is no library space, the teachers mostly jobshare and one classroom is a portacabin. I suspect ds wouldn't be eligible for 1:1 as he doesn't get any extra help at preschool.

Thank you both, it's really helpful to see to clearheaded questions - I'm getting a bit too flustered about it all to think clearly!

I’ve fought hard for a small village school for my son. However the excellent senco is what made me want the school most of all.

Soulcake - I agree that small and quiet is best. I wish I was able to talk to the senco I imagine she will make all the difference.

ZZZZZ - thank you for that insight. It's reframed my previously negative view of multi age classes. Ds is academically very able, it's transitions and rigid thinking that are his biggest challenges. A multi age class would mean fewer transitions.