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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

What type of Secondary school does your dc with Aspergers go to?

16 replies

Blossomhill · 26/12/2007 14:03

Although dd is in a ms primary and only in year 4 I am panicking already.
Academically she could cope in a ms school but I am so worried emotionally that she really would not cope at all. She has such severe sensory needs that I do not feel she could cope with the hussle and bustle of a large school, even with a unit.
There is a small independant school that dd could maybe go to but I know it will be a fight. They work more on the emotional side than the academic but tbh if it means dd is happy I really don't mind.
I would love to hear from other parents that have made the decision.

OP posts:

Original poster

Blossomhill · 26/12/2007 14:04

She is 8 btw

OP posts:

deeeja · 26/12/2007 15:58

Hi, how have your holidays been BlossomHill?
My eldest ds has aspergers. He is now 18, and at uni. He went to a small grammar school. He did extremely well there, and it turned out that alot of boys there were quite similar to him. I think a few had dxs of aspergers too. It worked fro him, because the teachers never changed much, and her didn't have to put up with sudden changes, as often happends at other secondary schools either. Also he didn't get called names, like geek and worse, either. Since all the other boys were the same.
I suppose I got lucky with it, though because it wasn't planned, he was already at the school when dx'ed.
Sorry if I have been of no help!
Hopefully someone of more help should come along soon!

aquariusmum · 26/12/2007 20:13

my dear HF ASD stepdaughter goes to a private school where class size is only 8, and they are a church school so very into the whole child rather than just academics. If you can't afford, are there any willing grandparents (as pay for stepdaughter's fees of £9k a year). After all, if they are going to leave it to you, why not do something useful now when it is needed?? I think outside London also better than inside London for this type of thing - this school I'm talking about is in Ipswich

Original poster

Blossomhill · 26/12/2007 21:56

deeja ~ hi! My holidays have been ok thanks. had horrendous feew weeks with dd leading up to christmas, but then again we always do. Change of routine and excitement are not a good mix lol
The school dd is at at the moment feel she would do well at a grammar school but tbh I am not sure at all. I think she needs very small class sizes.
I hope you don't mind me asking but how is your son getting on now at 18?

Aqua ~ We don't have anyone in our family that could pay that sort of money but I know the lea do fund for private/independant schools and I do think I have a very good case with dd.

Especially being a girl I think dd is going to find it so hard being a teenager

OP posts:

jenk1 · 27/12/2007 11:54

hiya BH.

DS is in an independent/private school funded by the LEA.

he coped with mainstream until he got into juniors and it was too much, we had to fight tooth and nail to get him in there, we had a really strong case as he was out for 2 years and it took us 3 tribunals to get his statement right BUT its been worth all the heartache and stress because he is so much happier in the school he,s in.

His school is part of the priory group, do you have one near to you cos can highly recommend one.

Original poster

Blossomhill · 27/12/2007 12:20

Hi Jenk

I think I am going to have to look at a specialist school that deals with speech/language and communication difficulties. Like you I will fight tooth and nail to get her the school she needs. Watching Waterloo rd has made me think just how hard secondary school is going to be and her academic side has to come second to the emotional side tbh

Will have a look for the priory group thanks xx

OP posts:

aquariusmum · 27/12/2007 14:02

There is a school in Wimbledon, London called Blossom House which is for speech and language diffs and is supposed to be superb, if anywhere near you of course!

Original poster

Blossomhill · 27/12/2007 17:34

Aqua ~ that's the one I am thinking of!

OP posts:

Hamandcheese · 27/12/2007 19:33

aqua - can you say which is the school your stepdaughter goes to? Thanks.

aquariusmum · 27/12/2007 19:38

St Joseph's school in Ipswich

Hamandcheese · 27/12/2007 19:46

thanks. IYO - would you recommend?

mymatemax · 27/12/2007 19:54

St Josephs has a v good reputation, I know people with children there (nt) so not sure about sn. Are you in Ipswich Ham&Cheese & aquariusmum?
Sorry Blossom for hijack -ds2 is only 5 but I worry that long term ms won't be the place for him.

flyingmum · 28/12/2007 11:18

Mine goes to a non-maintained secondary special school in Surrey (essentially it's an independent one) - the LEA pay but it is significantly cheaper than a priory group one. He's in a class of 5. I visited Blossom House. It certainly wasn't right for my chap and, as he put it, felt like a primary school. It has very little outside space and when we went round they had only got year 7s at Secondary level and didn't seem to have much of a clue about what direction they were going in. There was a lot of 'we might do this or that' which wasn't really good enough for us. However, that was 18 months ago and things have probably progressed for the better. The only thing I would say is that there are far fewer girls in these type of places than boys - my son only has one girl in his year group. It might be worth looking for schools that do have a reasonable intake of girls so she doesn't feel on her own. OHHHHH just had a brainwave - there is an LEA special school for girls in Surrey - can't think of name but its near Oxted way I think - I will investigate and let you know the name (it's lurking somewhere in the back of my mind as was in the local paper a while back). There is also a fantastic special speech and language school called More (Moor??) House in Oxted/Blindley Heath which I have heard is brilliant. They only take boarders though. Will contact you again once the braincell is working.

aquariusmum · 28/12/2007 12:58

It is early days for my stepdaughter at St Joseph's but so far so good, they seem very welcoming and understanding so far. My DH and his ex wife haven't got round to negotiating extra help for her yet though, so she is flying solo, so I don't know yet how good they are on that side of things. Interesting to hear about Blossom House, there is also Linden Bridge near Epsom - about which I hear some good, some bad.

Solenne · 28/12/2007 13:33

My ds goes to a ms secondary in Bristol. The LEA here are really funny about funding anything so this was basically the only option we had. He sat entrance for a really good private school up the road who have experience of aspergers but because of his behaviour difficulties at the time they wouldn't give him a full scholarship. He was offered a 50% fee bursary but the LEA refused to pay for a private school.

The school he is at now was only completed in September. At the moment they have a yr 7, yr8 and sixth form. It's really helped that he has started secondary with relatively small numbers. The staff are very helpful and he has regular meetings and support whenever he needs it. They basically leave it up to him unless there is a major problem.

I looked at a priory school in somerset but again the LEA said no way. Even had to fight to get transport for him so he could get to school!

Good luck with your school hunt.
Bex

floaty · 30/12/2007 11:12

MY ds2 (dyscalculic ,dyspraxic and probably on AS)was at st Josephs until last summer and I think it was wonderful for him we loved it and i cannot speak to highly of the Junior School.He left at the end of year 5 though as we all (school included )decided he needed more specialist help and he is now at The Old Rectory (along with 3 of his former classmates).Amberfield also has a good reputation I think.The one thing I would say about St Joes is that I know they can only cope with so many with SN and there do seem to be more that are having to move on.Also the class sizes in Snr School are more like 20-25.
If you are in the area certainly look at ORS ,they work hard to help them to cope back in mainstream but also give masses of support and pastoral care ,their website is down at the moment,being redeveloped but have a look at Good Schools Guide.The only thing is that they only go up to year 9 but the majority arrive in year 5 or 6 and stay for 2 years or so,the school then puts a lot of effort into finding the right school for them afterwords and making sure they have the techniques to cope there.
I am happy to talk off the board if you want .

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