DD will be going into Y5 in September and I am turning thoughts to possible secondary school options for her. I am hoping someone might kindly be able to share experiences with me. We are in Haringey, N London, so could consider any schools within possible reach of there. She has an EHCP. We would also be prepared to move out of London if necessary, but it would ideally be to Home Counties/SE England to combine the move for schooling with being closer to family.
So, to paint a picture of DD: she was diagnosed with autism just before 4yo and has had a statement/EHCP for almost all the time she has been in school. Since the summer term of Y3 her 1:1 support has increased to full-time. She has managed well in her big, mainstream primary and is happy, and making progress socially and academically. Her class teacher says she is bright but that her true academic potential is not being reflected in the work she produces because it takes her time to process getting down to tasks, and she can often be demand avoidant around activities or completing all parts of an exercise, as well as being highly distractible. She is making improvements in the time she takes to get down to things and the amount she produces though. She is behind on handwriting, punctuation, spelling etc. Overall she is generally either ‘working within’ or ‘working towards’ the majority of subjects for her year. It has been suggested that she could certainly manage GCSE’s, but I don’t know whether we are talking about 10, or 4, or somewhere in between and maybe accumulated over an extended timeframe. So there is potential there, but it all depends on how/if/when it can be brought out.
Her social understanding is immature, and her social interaction needs lots of input/scaffolding. She has begun to form proper friendships at school but they are still at a relaxed, not very close level. I am not sure she wants or could cope with more. She is very socially motivated and keen to engage, but not really very good at it, misses cues, goes on and on about her special interests, doesn’t notice when her audience is getting bored, misreads others’ intentions either for good or for bad. She doesn’t mask as far as I can see, which I am relieved about, but she is thus quite ‘out there’ (lots of stimmy behaviours, needs to move her body frequently, bounces about and talks to herself in the playground etc.) so thus potentially a target for bullies/teasing etc.
Basically we want her to have a crack at realising her full academic potential, but don’t want to prioritise this at the expense of her happiness/social development/sense of self/mental health. It has been a surprisingly smooth ride for us through primary so far, and I am aware that I can’t expect things to continue this easily when it gets to secondary....
So, it’s a long shot, but I was wondering if anyone with a DD who sounds of a similar-ish type, could share experiences of places like Hornsey School for Girls, Alexandra Park School (APS), Fortismere, Parliament Hill - but also any other mainstream/or independents in Haringey and the surrounding boroughs which have a good record with neuro diverse students and are supportive and nurturing etc.
And to return to the potential move out of London, any similar possibles in Kent/Sussex/Surrey?
If anyone is able to offer any insight, I would be massively grateful, thank you!