Special school or mainstream for High/Secondary School - Pros and cons? experiences?

[berringer]

Hello!

I have a 10 year old son who is currently in P6 at school in Scotland. He needs support with his learning due to dyspraxia, ataxia and learning disabilities. He is currently in a mainstream primary and has a full time PSA and receives Higher rate DLA for mobility and care.

We are beginning to consider where would be best for him to go to High School, and we have been advised that he would potentially be a good fit a special school.

His literacy and numeracy are still very difficult for him and I'd say that he is still are P1/reception level. Behaviour wise, he's pretty settled at his school and is supported well and seems happy generally. He doesn't really have any friends though and I sometimes wonder whether he's getting the best education for him or whether he's just being supported to cope in a mainstream environment .

The presumption is towards support in mainstream in Scotland, so It'd be a battle to get him a specialist high school place. But I 've started to think that maybe he'd have more chance of friendships and more specialist education there?

Does anyone have any perspective? Pros and cons?or is it to do with individuals and we won't know what's best for him until we try it?

A lot depends on what special schools are near you and how they might fit your child's needs. Near me, most special schools that still exist are aimed at kids with learning and severe physical disabilities, so bright kids with autism wouldn't have their educational needs met. A school is about to open for autistic kids without learning difficulties but as ds (year 6) was inspired by established schools with wall displays and all, and switched off at a school that had just moved into its building (despite being calmer and many fewer kids), we're going for mainstream.
In your case I'd certainly consider special schools - I used to work with sixth formers in one and their staff said while most of their kids could probably have coped in mainstream, the chance to be not bottom of the class all the time really boosted their ability to thrive.

It's all a bit of a lottery. Dss with more severe autism is coping with TA support in secondary mainstream. I'm not sure what could help him thrive more - he's more likely to find kids who share some of his interests in a huge school than one with only 10 pupils per year, at least.