What sort of school does DD2 need?

[Lougle]

DD2 is year 10, has ASD and has finally crumbled again (several schools in primary years due to not coping). She is being assessed for an EHCP and the Ed Psych seems to agree that a normal mainstream won't work. But she also doesn't have LDs.

She needs somewhere with small class sizes, good for sensory issues, etc. We're in Hampshire.

He sent through details of 'Inclusion Hampshire' but they only offer 2 GCSEs, which isn't enough. I think she needs to have the opportunity to get 5 GCSEs. She's missed the whole Spring term, mostly, due to anxiety, and wasn't understanding English and science before then, so really needs catch up.

There are ASD specialist schools where DD could access more than 2 GCSEs. You can search for schools here.

Depending on where you are in Hampshire Limpsfield Grange may be doable - although it would only be until the end of Y11 which isn’t ideal. NAS’s Thames Valley school in Reading, again it’s only until Y11 though. There are several Aspris schools that may be within travelling distance, some ASD and some SEMH e.g. Unsted Park, Coxlease, Clay Hill. Some parents like Grateley House, but Cambian have a mixed reputation. I’m sure there’s others too.

If MH is a big concern you could look at a carefully chosen SEMH school, many SEMH schools won’t be suitable but a few may be such as Beech Lodge in Maidenhead and New forest — Hampshire.

Alternatively, would DD cope in a mainstream independent?

If you can’t find a suitable school consider EOTAS.

Separately are the LA providing alternative arrangements while DD2 cannot access school? They should be.

Thanks @AReallyUsefulEngine, I'll start looking. We have an appointment with The Bridge (emotionally vulnerable side) in a couple of weeks but they are an interim measure, not a destination.

I was talking to DD2 last night and wondering whether I should be asking for a redo of year 10? She is mid-August born, didn't understand the first term of year 10, has effectively missed term 2, and will miss half of term 3 before we even meet with The Bridge. It's a real mess. She's already been in tears this weekend and has told me that she doesn't think she'll be able to go to school on Tuesday.

There is no provision right now. She has been doing 6 lessons per week in photography and food tech. No core subjects. Tutoring for core subjects has been mentioned but not actioned.

Redoing Y10 sounds like a good idea if DD2 would be amenable to it.

The LA should have been providing alternative arrangements when DD2 became unable to attend school full time, the provision should have begun when it became clear DD2 would miss 15 days (the days didn’t have to be consecutive). Maybe not useful now if provision should start in a couple of weeks, but if it doesn’t you can enforce DD’s right under s.19 of the Education Act 1996 by threatening Judicial Review.

I think technically she hasn't missed 15 days because she's been managing to go in for just 1 hour per day.

They don’t have to be full days to count. The legislation entitles pupils to a suitable, full time education, and while full time is not legally defined it is more than 1hr a day by anyone’s standards. The LGO and government guidance suggest it is 25 hours for KS4, although where delivered 1:1 can be lower because content is covered quicker. So, even if the LA argue the session in which DD2 attends doesn’t count as an absence once it became clear DD2 would miss 30 sessions provision should have begun.