Boarding school for child with ECHP, adhd

[CAMHady]

Looking for a boarding school who are inclusive and with a can do attitude. Son in year nine has EHCP in draft as no named school, was excluded after hitting a kid who called him the N word, we are appealing this. He’s been exploited by county lines so we want him away for everyone’s safety: he’s very very bright and wants to go to university. Was predicted 7-9s at GCSE. We can look at state boarding schools with LA paying or we can possibly access CEA funding from the military as we are a military family

You can search for schools here. With an EHCP independent schools can be funded - mainstream and specialist. I think it is unlikely you will find a MS boarding school who will admit DS.

Wilds Lodge is worth looking at. They offer a range of GCSEs and some years A levels. It’s not quite as academic but St Edwards offer some GCSEs and is also worth a look as is some of Aspris’s schools.

Thank you, Wilds Lodge seems the most academic special school I have seen, I am concerned as the vast majority of the time he is absolutely fine and presents no issue in school (racism has always been the trigger). I struggle to imagine him fitting in at a special school.

Do look at some of Aspris’s schools as some of them offer a grange of GCSEs. There are other academic SS e.g. Alderwasley Hall, Breckenbrough, Gretton, West Heath, but I don’t think DS’s profile will fit them and he doesn’t have ASD and many of the more academic SS are ASD schools.

Thank you so much. That has been the issue, he’s not ASD and honestly if he wasn’t excluded for the violence over the racism we wouldn’t be in this position. I feel there are no special schools he would fit. I’m not sure if we win the appeal if that will make a difference to where he goes next or that will remain a blemish that will put schools off.

Your poor boy. If you're prepared to consider special school then More House might be worth a look. They take boys with various different needs, mainly dyslexia or autism but not exclusively. Mainly day boys but there's boarding for those who need it.

I believe you can hire people to help you find the right private school. Educational consultants, is that the right term? Something like that.

That’s a really good idea, I’ll look into it.
I think a place with mostly ASD would not work for him at all. I really feel mainstream is appropriate

More House is unlikely to admit with a permanent exclusion for violence.

I think we are likely to get removed as it was permanent because it was classed as unprovoked. Called a child the n word is certainly provoked. More house doesn’t look right for him due to not having learning needs or ASD

As you're looking for a mainstream school I suggest you repost this on the "Education" and "Boarding" threads, although you'll undoubtedly get a few squeals about the exclusion.

Thank you. I’ll do that.

Good evening, @CAMHady I stumbled across your post and wonder how you got on with your school search? I am in a similar situation with my slightly older son and finding no easy answers in terms of which school might suit him! Any update / words of wisdom you have gleaned in the last 6 months??

Alas I’m no further forward :-( feel free to private message you if you have any specifics.
we have lodged appeal for EHCP, we have a plan b (online school with amazing results) and just over half a term to fight the LA.
We also began judicial review of exclusion and was given a fresh IRP and they quashed the decision, shocked that they didn’t accept it was provoked; shocked how badly treated he was and that it was discrimination. We now await the governors to look at it again next week… they can take him back or pay £4k. Obviously this helps us get him to another school, I don’t think going back there would be right. He’s doing much better and “only” missing one night (January) since June 2022.
happy to help if I can xxx