More House, Northease, Frewen, Slindon time again!

[Gillway]

More House, Northease, Frewen, Slindon: anyone got any recent experience of any of them? I'm a parent of a Dyspraxic, Dyslexic kid with sensory, anxiety, auditory, visual and social communication issues floundering at mainstream secondary. Been under a threat of prosecution for non attendance for a while. Bloody awful time. Ehcp process on its way. Son is sociable with no behavioural issues and has an extremely high IQ.

Can anyone please tell me about schools that might work for us within reasonable distance of Brighton? More House actively wants high IQ non behaviourally challenged kids, but is an onerous 1.5 hours away. I've heard kids do this but I've often wondered how they could be Sen because mine wouldn't be great with 3 hours travel per day.

We would however consider moving. Frewen is also distant and not sure if it is for children with challenging behaviours or just spld kids. Northease is close but has it recovered from its recent issues and is it academic enough for a child with high potential and who needs to learn the skills to pass GCSEs with dyspraxia? Slindon is also a knackering journey away but maybe it's good? My son could also manage a mainstream school with trained spld teachers, but a specialist school with in house salt, OT and all day long Specialist teaching, good facilities and a non disruptive cohort would be the best. After reading umpteen threads with some
Posts going back to 2004, I'm appalled that finding a school for a bright SEN kid is still a complete forking nightmare!

The highly qualified Ed psych who diagnosed DS with DCD a couple of years ago, did so when all was well at junior school and DS's sensory and soc comm issues didn't cause much concern. The EP therefore hasn't seen DS V2, the pubescent school refuser, and only remembers the bright eyed little lad who wouldn't have dreamed of missing school. Upon speaking to the EP just now, he said DS "doesn't need More House, a good mainstream with good SEN provision will do, although you do understand that really it should be private."

Well, being of an age where I experienced lots of brilliant people going to state comprehensives, no I don't get private school. My default is to believe state school is just as good and that a bright child like mine should get through with flying ---- ok, so he's school refusing and with his SEN no way is he going to succeed at his state school if it carries on like this.

So does More House take kids that could do just as well at a decent mainstream with good Sen provision? Or are they in some way different, more in need as it were? Many thanks!

Thanks Gianticicle. Yes if EP isn't onboard then either I get another EP or not bother. As I said, EP doesn't know that DS's profile has become more complex, but will know after reading reports by a multi disciplinary team sometime soon. Either way, hopefully the open day should be very telling.

MH admits children for whom mainstream would be a real struggle (academically or socially) and therefore not in their best interests. Sometimes pupils make so much progress at MH that they leave after GCSEs and attend mainstream 6th form colleges. Perhaps the EP mentions private from the point of view of class sizes?

Thanks betterwithasetter1, I asked DS, whose undiagnosed soc comm issues makes him snap impatiently at everyday conversation so you have to tiptoe gingerly, "Shall we try the mainstream state school at the other end of town in another catchment, the one with the two year waiting list and that has generally better behaved kids and a less pointlessly strict uniform policy?" And he snapped, "NO. Because all those kids will be the same kind of kids as are in all mainstream schools. I want to go to specialist or home schooling."

What he's learnt is that mainstream schools, in our area anyway, always put the football team at the top of the pecking order, way above the clever geeky unathletic kids, and he with his breathless pace of talking, his scruffiness, his in depth knowledge of history and current affairs, and his lolloping walk, stands out like a complete weirdo. He's been bullied but as a defence has become the acid tongued, surreal comedy merchant who tried to look as different as possible to the boys with the "meet-me-at-McDonalds" haircuts.

So DS has decided that he's not cut out for mainstream, but the EP told me in an informal chat, that he "doesn't need specialist, just a good mainstream with good SEN provision". I guess it depends on what's viable. The good mainstream out of catchment might or might not be offered. If it's offered, will it have decent SEN provision? I suppose I'll just have to be proactive and keep asking lots of different schools.

Oh what fun this all is!

OP - have you contacted New Barn in Horsham? I think you should try and look around.

Anyone any experience of Slindon?

We are visiting on Wednesday

Thanks missfliss, we are doing various open days. Need to contact Slindon too. I looked at the Horsham barn school but worried it might not be academic enough for DS's Potential (sounding very Mumsnetter-tastic there ). We are on various waiting lists. Does anybody know what LA is likely to make us go through. We are waiting to hear if la agree to assess. First DCD diagnosis 2016, three further ASD assessments since. Will LA waste time by forcing DS to try and fail at another mainstream school? If he refuses to go will that mean we can't move forward?

I think you should honestly ( apologies if you have already sorry!) contact SOSSEN and IPSEA.

I can't speak for everyone but my experience so far has been getting some of the way thanks to a good school SENCO ( who ensured the EHCP request was vigorous, validated and evidenced).
We have reviewed the draft EHCP and it is proper sh1t. We have spent our own money on a good independent advocate (£800 to date) and a private OT assessment which will form the backbone of trying to get a more robust EHCP in place. What I actually anticipate happening though is that the LA will refuse to amend the EHCP as we request and refuse our named specialist school.

We are essentially expecting to go to SEN tribunal and to spend circa £2k further on a private Ed Psych when that happens.

Thanks Missfliss. I'm engaged with Sossen and Ipsea and have done their workshops, I research endlessly and seek advice from appropriate professionals. My young, ignorant, cocky little SENCO is definitely not engaged and will, I believe, be actively unhelpful on our EHCP journey, such is her cog-in-the-machine, LA lackey type attitude and her spouting of jargon, "results driven interventions" and parent blaming.

I'm also fully expecting tribunal and maybe up to £10K on expert reports and legal fees. HOWEVER, if there were any way I could avoid this waste of time and money, I'd be up it like a ferret up a drainpipe.

Checked Slindon website. Looks amazing but would involve a move. I will try to book a visit though because there's a lot to learn about what is proven to work for kids like DS, that mainstream think they're delivering but aren't eg SEAL training.

That sounds shit ( re SENCO).

The biggest surprise to me to be honest was just how helpful the private OT report was. It's been a transformative read for us in understanding ASD and our sons behaviour ( arousal states and daydreaming). It totally refutes and properly evidences a lot of he hackneyed and outdated ASD language which is problematic in the EHCP. It's so worthwhile.

I'm also using it as the backbone for feedback to try and get the EHCP changed.

I'm less interested in a private Ed Psych report as to me that's just a tool to win an eventual tribunal ( they carry most weight ) but regardless of the cost (£550) the private OT report has been amazing.

It was done at Jigsaw OT near burgess hill.

Btw if it helps we are just in Shoreham-by-Sea and wouldn't move if son went to Slindon. The LA would be handling daily transport ( taxi to and from)

Wow that is helpful missfliss, thank you. I DO want an OT report with full sensory test so you've galvanised me. Will check Burgess Hill OT. I think you're at leat 10/15 mins closer to Slindon than me which is eminently do-able for you. Just unbelievable that there are no free specialist schools for SPLD.

Glad it was helpfu Gillway - they were excellent

Northease has transformed under the new headteacher and is a brilliant setting for those who need it, however from your OP and subsequent posts your DS sounds possibly too able and too academic to need to be there. My understanding is that the majority of pupils at Northease have significantly more complex needs - behavioural and learning needs - than the majority of those at More House. Frewen I believe only takes pupils if they have significant dyslexia, though many of their pupils have other issues as well as dyslexia. I don’t know Slindon at all. HTH!

My DS is at Slindon. The school has been through a lot of change, (3heads in five years) and we have had in all honesty a pretty bumpy ride. Having said that it seems to be moving forward with plenty of positives and coming through, so personally I am hopeful for it’s future.

Thanks catkin, you've differentiated them all and as I feared, now the choice is dwindling further. Ultimately DS is not academically able in the context of our mainstream school but possibly too able for some specialists. I can't teach him at home mainly because he finds me teaching him annoying. We were sacked by two tutors in succession because he clearly found them humdrum. Gah!

Thanks luxuryhandwash, we are going to the Slindon's open day. At the very least it's important to learn how others are getting taught in order to help DS.

Gillway - if you like it and think they make the right noises for your DS make sure you do speak to other parents and go back when there are actually kids there. Their open days are on weekends....! As with any school it depends so much on the individual and their needs.

gillway I went to visit Slindon this week. I liked it. The children all looked happy which is a good sign.

My son has been invited back for 3 taster days after half term. We were looking at the primary section in most depth but I was invited to look in on a gcse maths lesson and an a level stage DT session.
I find it so difficult to relate to mainstream as the classes are tiny and teacher ratios are so high. Totally at odds to my experiences school or indeed my sons.

Will do Luxuryhandwash, thanks. Missfliss, hope you get what you need. Have you seen the now infamous East Sussex LA iSend bulletin asking employees not to help SEN parents by issuing EHCPs or specialist school placements? It was the first item on BBC News at 6 pm. Strange times.

Missfliss - re Slindon primary, the teacher who heads it up is awesome and totally gets “the struggle” I can hand on heart tell you that through first hand experience.
The problem (IMO) at this school has been due to shambolic management higher up but there is a new head now and a new SENco , which whilst no instant answers, the change is already apparent.

Ps: socially this school is nothing like a mainstream. That may be good or bad depending on you DS. Just keep that in mind as I focussed on the academic needs of my son but wish now if paid more attention in other areas

Thankyou Luxury - I do worry about the tiny class sizes and social aspects I must admit. But I guess it's about trying to maintain existing friendships too.

I met a female primary teacher who I warmed to instantly, and a male who was very personable and spent a lot of time talking to me.

I feel so low tonight though. Really anxious and Upset and worried about the battles coming my way ( at draft EHCP stage).

Hi guys
Just joining the conversation. We are looking for schools for my daughter who has ASD. Is very academic but struggles in mainstream setting.
I have to say I was impressed with Northease at our visit and the impression we got is that they are academic (they fit around individual children) and they don't particularly like taking on children with behavioural issues. Apparently some students do A Levels early etc.
Is it worth a look? My DD is doing some taster days there soon.
Am interested to know why isn't seen as academic as it's very important to our daughter.

Missfliss my son is funded there (by WSX) and has been for a while. It’s possible!!
The teacher you saw is very lovely and I owe her a lot, not only for my son, but for my sanity!
In respect of the social aspect, I’m not going to lie, it’s been a living nightmare. A melting pot of differing needs, some kids scared of their own shadow, some kids volatile and aggressive, some submissive and defensive, some unable to integrate etc and yes, in this respect the small classes haven’t helped with forming friendships. However this is the nature of the beast I think with a lot of special schools. They take a wide range of needs and sadly, the more needs, the more money! I hope that in the future they decide on the profile of their client instead of trying to cater for all. As I say, this applies to many similar schools, not just Slindon. I am hopeful the new head will get a handle on things.