Secondary schools - high functioning autism

[welshmum3]

Hi, I have an almost 14year old asd diagnosed daughter who has struggled with school always. Primary school was just about manageable - i think mostly she was just on shutdown but she wasn't causing a problem to school so they were content to let things drift. I tried -and failed- to get anyone to take any notice of my requests to provide more support.
Transition to secondary school was badly managed so by the end of year 7 she was extremely anxious. self harming and suicidal. She was then out of school for 8 months whilst we got her Statement sorted and then she started at a Unit attached to her mainstream school and is in a specialist asd class of 10 students with access to mainstream lessons accompanied by a TA. She is very capable of achieving GCSEs, probably A levels and has expressed a desire to go to University.
Since starting in the Unit back in September, however, school have hardly even begun to address anything outlined on her statement. For example, it was said she needed a speech and language assessment. SLT comes to the Unit every week. But she's only had an assessment because i've paid for one privately. This has highlighted a severe expressive language disorder. OT has outlined sensory issues - neither of which were assessed during the statementing process. Her statement says she needs input regarding speech and language, communication, sensory issues - but she gets nothing. We have meetings and make plans but school doesn't stick to them - even basics like when she goes over to mainstream she should be going before and after everyone else so she doesn't have to negotiate busy corridors. Paperwork submitted to the LA by school after the last review says she has lego therapy and talkabout sessions - she doesn't. Her teacher is quite negative towards the students in her care - she's described my daughter as 'an angry young person' (she's not but she does get anxius, overwhelmed and sometimes frustrated) and called her a 'hazard' to her face. When my daughter has asked for help, she says the teacher has rolled her eyes, sighed and refused to help. Today I was asked to pick her up at 11.30 because she was upset - and it transpired that she was shouted at by her teacher in front of everybody for doing something her TA had given her consent to do (leave the room to use the printer)
Apart from the fact that she is not happy in school, my fear is that she will not receive the necessary support to reach her full potential, nor receive sufficient therapeutic input around communication and social skills / anxiety. really i want to know two thing:

1. What schools are out there which can support her through to A level. I'm guessing im probably looking at boarding as we live in Wales in the middle of nowhere.
2. How do I get the school placement changed on her Statement - i;m guessing I could argue that as SLT and OT weren't part of that, we didn't have a complete picture of her needs - which i now belive this setting can't meet.
3. Will the LA fund an independent specialist school. Or maybe even a small independent mainstream would be an option? Any thoughts appeciated, Thank you

Ok - so that was three things in the end . Any suggestions for appropriate schools / advice welcome

I am not familiar with the Welsh system, but assume it’s broadly the same as England:

1. When is the next annual review? If it’s not soon, ask for one ASAP. Ask for the statement to be amended where relevant to reflect all the needs, such as the severe expressive disorder, sensory problems, etc; and then the provisions to meet those needs as per the professional reports. Go through all the professional and school reports with a fine tooth comb. Reports can be regarded as obsolete (iirc I’ve one year old, but there is no known cure for HFA, language disorder, etc). Realistically, there is very little speech and language therapy and OT at secondary. If you get it fully specified and quantified in terms of minute/hours per week/fortnight as appropriate then the LA has to provide it, even if they bring in a private therapist. It’s their problem not yours and if any provisions in the statement are not provided, then you can start judicial review on your DD’s behalf probably on legal aid, although you would have to pay for the first letter before action.

However, it’s looks like you are banging your head against a brick wall with the school - they don’t seem inclined to do what they can! With some schools, parents have to give up and find either a more SEN friendly secondary school or a specialist school! Even if DD stays at mainstream until Y11, you could find it’s subtly made clear she is not welcome in the 6th form in a high achieving academic school?

I knew of a child from Wales at Dawn House, near Mansfield in Nottinghamshire; and another at St Catherine’s on the Isle of Wight. I have no idea how long their journey home was - although the LA funds the taxi or pays your petrol if you want to do it! (Don’t do it, as it becomes exhausting over the years)

However, I doubt either school does A levels. Speech and language young people may do GCSEs, but say at Dawn House they may do literacy, numeracy and life skills in school in the 6th form, but they go part time to a local FE college for vocational courses like catering, animal care, etc. The young people I knew in the specialist schools, who went to university did art, graphic design, photography, etc - visual subjects which are not language based. One girl with a severe expressive disorder became a dental hygienist. Having the intelligence for university is one thing, the language abilities for written courses is another. Ask your daughter’s speech therapist what she thinks DD could do at university?

It is likely you would have a fight with your LA over getting the statement amended (as it will all cost money) and even more over a specialist school; but parents can do it.

Speak to Ipsea or SOS!SEN to get detailed advice, especially to check the SEN system in Wales is like the English system as above.

Thanks. We only had her annual review in January - this was when school agreed that I could get a private SLT assessment. He has been really specific in terms of what therapy she needs, how many times a week, termly reviews, who should deliver it, additional training for staff, her class size etc. There's no way this setting could provide it even if they were willing.

I had a quick look at The SEN Code of Practice for Wales. It looks practically the same as the CoP was for England, when it was statements under The Education Act 1996!

Has your LA issued the review report for the annual review yet?

No not yet. We've not received any paperwork from the review.

If I were you, I would put in your request for the amendments as above regarding all the needs and provisions for the statement ASAP. LAs never stick to the deadlines anyway, so why should parents? If they agree to amend the statement, they should issue you with a draft amended statement and that would give you the option to ask for a change of placement if you want? Have a look at other schools either mainstream secondaries or say Dawn House ASAP!

She is in a specialist unit; but it looks to me like they need a sea change of attitude (requiring much input and education from a speech therapist and Ed psy) to DD’s SEN!

My DS went to an independent specialist school for autism, funded by the LA (in England). It wasn't easy - we had to go to tribunal to force them to name it and I paid legal fees to prepare a strong case. You will probably need further private assessments. His school had some students who were from Wales, so it seems it is possible for LAs in Wales to pay for independent special schools in England. His school didn't have A-levels in-house - they supported students to access A-level (and other courses) in local FE colleges. In practice, this wasn't ideal as the resources were stretched, because different students wanted to attend lots of different colleges, so it wasn't possible for support staff to support all of them as much as they needed. The students end up being taught by college tutors who don't have specific autism training, so they may as well be in any mainstream college. Some students did end up doing A-Levels and going to university, other students do more vocational courses, and others go into employment or supported living. If you are looking at specialist provision, I'd try to find a school that offers A-levels taught at the school itself, rather than outsourcing it to local FE colleges (I believe some of the Priory schools do this).

Have a look at schools run by Cambian, Priory and Witherslack group. There's also a SEN-friendly (mainstream) boarding school, St Davids, in Llandudno - I know of one parent who had fees covered by the LA to attend there.