Moving to UK with 11/12 year old ASD - which are the best schools? (Cambridge, London, Brighton)?

[Secretusername3]

I am thinking of moving to Cambridgeshire but would consider anywhere, even Scotland! Cambridge, London or Brighton are possibilities.

My DS has been in a small autism class, for all of primary in another country which has been pretty good (good ratio of staff to children) and attends some mainstream classes as he is good at maths, likes music. He has complex needs. There are not classes in secondary like this where I live so it would be a good time to move.

In Cambridge have heard Cavendish and Gretton might be suitable but it is very hard to get in? What are the waits like? I would need an EHCP and what do I need to get him the best help?

Would the LA fund a private school not ASD but which was suitable or is that completely off the cards (smaller class sizes are key if possible). If I need to home school him until he is found a place will they make funds available or will he have to go to an unsuitable place? Any advice would be massively appreciated.

When you are resident in the LA you can apply for an EHCNA. If you don’t have to appeal the EHCP process takes 20 weeks, unfortunately many do have to appeal, some more than once, and current waits for tribunals is around a year.

In schools that aren’t wholly independent, with an EHCP there isn’t a waiting list as such. If the LA agree to issue an EHCP unless your preference is wholly independent they must name your preference unless the LA can prove:
-The setting is unsuitable for the age, ability, aptitude or special educational needs (“SEN”) of the child or young person; or
-The attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the provision of efficient education for others; or
-The attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the efficient use of resources.

Being ‘full’ on its own isn’t enough of a reason to refuse to name your preference. The LA have to prove to school is so full admitting DC is incompatible, which is a high bar.

For wholly independent schools the rules are slightly different because you need an offer of a place and to prove the LA’s proposed school(s) couldn’t meet DC’s needs &/or it isn’t unreasonable public expenditure. It is possible to get mainstream independent schools named in an EHCP and therefore funded. Some LAs will come to an agreement whereby parents pay the fees and the LA pay the SEN support, but not all will and it isn’t guaranteed.

Gretton is wholly independent, Cavendish isn’t.

The provision DS has been in where you are is similar to ARPs in England, but you would need an EHCP for them.

If you EHE you relieve the LA of their duties, they wont fund your EHE. Although in a minority of cases some LAs do give a personal budget for EHE when the DC has an EHCP, but this is relatively rare and highly unlikely to happen to someone new to the area without an EHCP.

However, once you are resident in the LA they have a statutory duty to provide a suitable, full time education. Whether that’s in a school or otherwise.

Many thanks @Thatsnotmycar much appreciated 🙏
If anyone has any direct experience of the quality of schools in the area please do let me know.