Help?! Secondary school with great SEN support SW London or nearby

[Adiamantine]

Hello everyone!

I'd hugely appreciate some help! My son is in the middle of Year 5 at a state primary school in SW London. He has an EHCP and 1-to-1 TA support, plus some OT, but even with this support he is really struggling to keep up with his classmates. He is about 2 years behind in numeracy and although his reading is pretty good he really struggles with creative writing (even writing about what he did at the weekend!) without a lot of prompting. His TA started scribing for him last term because he was too slow to keep up in class. He has not been diagnosed with dyslexia or dyscalculia, but has very poor working memory and slow processing, as well as difficulty with visual/spatial reasoning. According to a recent Cognitive Assessment, though, he is of average intelligence. I'm pushing for a full Educational Psychologist assessment, as he's never had a proper one.

I'm getting increasingly worried that his current school won't be able to support him adequately in Year 6 and his confidence could be knocked even more than it already has been.

Can anyone recommend any schools in the sw London area (for Year 6 or 7 entry) or within pretty easy reach that you've had a good experience with and which you think might be right for him?

I think a smallish, nurturing setting with small class sizes and in-house specialist support, and the flexibility and expertise to support him with his maths, in particular, would probably suit him best. He doesnt really have friends of his own at his current school, due to some difficulty with social communication. No behavioural issues, though.

I've come across the Moat in Fulham and Canbury in Kingston, also Fairley House in Pimlico, although they seem to be mainly for dyslexic children. More House in Farnham looks great, although it's quite big
and pretty far, and on their website they say they have "bright" boys there, so not sure if it might be beyond him.

There seem to be plenty of schools which are not "special" as such but have a good reputation for working with SEN children, (eg Halliford in Shepperton, the Hall in Wimbledon, Ewell Castle, Kingswood House, Thames Christian school, Radnor house, Kew house, Hampton Court House) but I'm concerned that he might need more support than they could provide.

I'd hugely appreciate any advice/thoughts!

Thanks so much.

Bump

Following as our son is younger but similar. We have also been told that More House is for quite high functioning Sen. We know a family with kids at Moat and they are happy. There is a new state Sen school in Twickenham for children with manly speech/communication difficulties called Capella House but we are finding it hard to get info on it.

Hi.
This is just like my boy, he’s also in year 5 in a state school in Wimbledon!
Your description sounds just like the very same situation as my son, struggling behind (1.5 year behind across subjects), expressive language, social communication, no behavioural issues. Gentle. 1:1 support, speech and language therapy, some OT.

I find it very difficult to get some help and advice from our school and the caseworker I can’t even get hold of. I’m also desperate for som information and recommendations of secondary schools. I wish for him to go to a mainstream school with in-house support if possible as he is functioning well and have some friends even if not as deep friendships as you would expect. Options for special schools also welcome.

Any advice welcome, many thanks!

@Adiamantine Hi OP, appreciate it's been a while since you started this thread but did you find a suitable option for your son? We're potentially in the same boat with my child.