School for autistic child in Birmingham?

[gollyb]

Hello all
I’m posting on behalf of a friend who’s going through a very stressful time due to multiple issues. She’s a single parent recently divorced and trying to move to Birmingham. Her 13 yo DD has been recently diagnosed with Autism. Would anyone know of a good SEN school for autistic child in Birmingham so that she could try to find a house with getting school placement in mind please? Any ideas would be much appreciated.
Thanks very much in advance.

Hi, secondary specialising in autism is Baskerville in Harborne, towards the Quinton end. It is virtually impossible to get a place, despite increased provision. The other school specialising in autism is Uffculme, on edge of Kings Heath/Moseley. Uffculme was primary school, but they have acquired another site, and expanded, and I think now go through to end of secondary too.
If her DD has only just been diagnosed, presumably she's been in mainstream until now? Does she have an EHCP already? It takes years to get one here, and most children with autism don't get one, and are also in mainstream. Places at Uffculme and Baskerville are like gold dust tbh, though I understand the provision is v good, uffculme has always been excellent from what I know of children that have attended.

And tbh, if her dd can travel independently (house near school?) then she's not likely to be deemed in need of specialist provision over mainstream. Children in special schools in Birmingham are biased all over the city to their provision, assuming parents are unable to transport.

Does your friend's DD have an EHCP?

Is your friend aware that when you move LA the new LA will review, amend or potentially cease to maintain the EHCP?

Hi KingsHeathen,
Thanks so much for this very useful info which I have passed on to my friend. Looks like she might settle around Wolverhampton. Hope she gets a good school for her daughter s there’s so much going on for her at the moment. She’s relocating from London and doesn’t have any support network around Birmingham either so it’s going to be a really challenging few months for her. Thanks very much once again x

Thanks 10. She already has an ECHP and attends a SEN school. Yes… I think she’s aware of it.

Wolverhampton has its own LA, it doesn't come under Birmingham. Although with an EHCP you can look at schools out of area.

Ah, very sorry, but I'm not familiar with Wolverhampton special schools. Definitely too far to travel to Bham's!
Hope all goes well with her move.