Mainstream or an ARP

[Sumy]

Hi ladies,
seeking some advice please -my son is 3 years old and currently at a NARP which is only for a year. He is preogressing really well. He has asd, very hyperactive, can imitate, recognise numbers to 100, read. He doesn’t have any light adversions, noise or routine fixations. He can request for things using 1-2 words and lots of echolalila. Also currently potty training. We are currently in the process of applying for his exception place in September and his current nursery for asd have recommended mainstream with 1:1 as he will have an ehcp in September however I feel due to his hyperactivity he may not learn as in the nursery he has 8 children 1:2 support . They feel he is suited to mainstream but I don’t know whether ARP would be better, I voice my concerns with the NARP and they said they will trial him in the school mainstream nursery which is linked to their NARP next week to see how he copes which I know he will be fine but my concern is he will be left to do his thing and not given the close attention he needs. Can I have your views especially for a child like mine who doesn’t have meltdowns or overstimulation. Just want to make the right decision for him.A very concerned mum. Thank You and sorry for the long post.

I personally would go for the ARP every time. The clue is in the name. I was told by an independent professional that my DD was only going to cope in mainstream for a term or two and even the LA’s opposite number agreed. 1:1 in a mainstream class of 30 is not a magic cure for SEN.

There are the questions of how it is set up - are the children in a small class with a higher number of staff; and they go into mainstream for select lessons, as and when they can cope with support?

Or, are the children in mainstream and go back into the base for select lessons?

When they are in the mainstream classes, how much support do they get?

I would expect a mainstream school with an ARP to be more used to children with SEN, although that doesn’t stop individual mainstream teachers from being useless!

There is also the question of how good your local school is on SEN? I would not have sent my child with SEN to my local outstanding primary school, because it was obvious where their priorities lay and it wasn’t with SEN. One of my university friends was head of a primary school, where the SENCO had previously worked - my friend said the SENCO was useless and she’d managed her out!

Have a look round the ARP and see what you think?

What do the professionals e.g. OT, EP, SALT suggests?

You say ‘will have an EHCP’. Do you mean DS doesn’t yet have an EHCP? If so, where are you in the process? It may well be a moot point for Sept 2024 if for example an EHCNA hasn’t yet been requested or has only just been requested. Unless you have a finalised EHCP by the normal admissions process deadline you should make an application via the normal process as well.

Thank You quisqam they do integrate the children so they see but in the school I work at I have seen children who could do well on mainstream classes left in the arp as they can’t integrate them due to lack of staff. I find the arps I’ve looked at are more babysitting the kids and some have said this indirectly but there are some really good ones which say they only take higher needs children. It’s definitely a hard decision. Thank You for your response and food for thought.

The professionals have suggested mainstream but said that’s their recommendation but can’t force me as it’s my decision. He is current in a NARP only 2 in the borough and had to go to panel to get in. They started the ehcp process in September ready for next September they do all of that and are experienced in it which saves us fighting for the ehcp as we will have one for son starting September. Thank You for your reply.

If/when you get a draft EHCP you will be able to state your preferred placement, but the LA may not include the ARP even if that is your preference. They may force you to appeal.

If you haven’t already, have a read of IPSEA and SOSSEN’s websites to learn more about EHCPs and the process.

If an EHCNA was only requested in September there is no guarantee an EHCP will definitely be in place by September. The process takes 20 weeks if you don’t have to appeal, but many do have to appeal and the wait for a hearing is long. As you won’t have a finalised EHCP by the normal admissions deadline you should make a normal application just in case.