I have DS1 with ASD, dyslexia, mild dyspraxia (high IQ but poor in certain areas and v anxious) and am in oxford city. We can’t move far as DH has to be able to get to work within a certain timeframe when on call.
DS1 started at a local - absolutely fine, in fact good, primary. Unfortunately we ended up moving him to a private school for yr1 as the schools was too big , chaotic playground and they kept saying ds was meeting ‘expected’ targets and would settle and stop having meltdowns, wetting himself and hyperventilating all the time. I think the poor teachers were a bit overwhelmed by their workload tbh. His private school have been fantastic, but obv they have smaller classes and more resources, plus are more flexible overall.
As we are coming up to secondary I, luckily just before COVID, visited various schools in Oxford. Cherwell, Matthew Arnold, Cheney, Wheatley park, new swan school. Had ds seen by an edu psychologist again, who said that he basically wasn’t bad enough for anything much in the state sector - he wouldn’t qualify for an ASD hub based on either educational or behavioural needs based on the current situation. I looked round all these schools with a very open mind as we were considering moving within the city to get ds into one if we thought he would manage there. Cherwell looked very good overall, also Matthew Arnold. However I don’t think he would cope in the large, busy, socially harsh teenage environments and we would quickly find ourselves with a deteriorating situation. None of the schools SENCO were able to offer more than ‘we will write an IEP for him’, when I asked what they would do if problems emerged.Again they all seemed dedicated hardworking folks with far too much work.
So at the moment we are heading for private secondary for DS1. (Ds2 has no SEN so is completely separate case).
We have not gone down the EHCP route yet as the support needed is available without it in the private sector so far, and just having one seems to turn some schools off. If ds were going to go to a state school again I would apply for one.
So my advice would be
- visit all the schools when possible, in the meantime arrange to speak to or meet online with a staff member (senco if poss but not always available) to give you a feel. Ask if they would let you get in contact with a current parent of a child with ASD if the parent consents - the majority were happy to do this and it was invaluable. Book in visits for autumn 2021 if poss, I’ve managed to do this in a couple of places
- consider all schools logistically feasible, even those less good academically as if they will support your child they will do well anywhere
- ask what they would do in certain situations, even if not relevant now for your child
- also look at LVS oxford - it looks excellent but ds is far too academically able for their offering
GOOD LUCK