Help choosing school for autistic DS

[ZanySloth]

Have tried to keep this as short as I can , I could really do with some help/advice for DS who is in year 3. We are currently being assessed for an EHCP. He is autistic, high academic achieving but very low-frustration tolerance and concentration issues. He really struggles in groups and currently has no friends, he tries to make friends but does not know how, any friendships are lost. Lot of issues around physical responses to other children etc. Lots of panic attacks, violence and meltdowns at home also refusing school on certain days. Lots of sensory issues particularly around noisy and busy places. Also some issues with dyspraxia and gross motor skills.

A lot of advice I see in these sorts of instances where a child is autistic and good at academic subjects e.g. maths is to ‘find a nice small independent school’ and get that on the EHCP. However, he is already at one of these kinds of school! (self-funded) The issues he has there:

• They have lots of special events / trips out which he can’t cope with
• Lots of different teachers and classrooms
• Limited ability to supervise him to help with emotional regulation as and when issues arise
• A lot of focus on sports where he is less able and this causes anxiety
• Other children seem to be teasing him but his communication skills make it difficult to find out what is happening
• Other children seem very ahead in social communication
• He has a lot of anxiety and is very low/upset on way in and out of school, he can’t tell us what is wrong
• He seems to have no capacity outside school to do anything all his energy has been used up

There are some good things of course!

• The SENCO and his main class teacher are lovely and putting in a lot of time to help us
• Smaller class sizes so teachers can help when he gets frustrated or loses concentration
• They are not too fussy about uniforms and happy to make adjustments
• Willing to make allowances for behaviours arising from SEN
• He is doing well in his academic learning
• They have a great SALT who he sees each week (however is still not meeting targets)
• He is familiar with it

I am under a bit of pressure as the SENCO has to input to the EHCP assessment. She has identified extra support that the school could provide (with funding). However, if she puts down provision that the school can’t meet (e.g. 1-2-1 for sensory breaks) then they won’t be able to say yes when they get sent the EHCP consult. I think if he needs something it should be identified. However, I don’t want to rule out his current school without having an idea if anywhere exists that would be more suitable!

Can anyone give me any advice about this?! It is possible a different mainstream school might meet his needs better or would it have to be a special school? Or might this school be ok with extra support?

An EHCP should contain all a child’s needs and all the provision reasonably required to meet those needs. An EHCP without all the needs/provision required won’t meet the child’s needs.

I would ask why the school feels they couldn’t provide 1:1 sensory breaks if 1:1 and any equipment necessary was funded.

Unfortunately, for wholly independent schools, you will need an offer of a place and to prove the LA’s proposed school(s) can’t meet needs &/or it isn’t unreasonable public expenditure. For non-wholly independent schools, there are limited reasons LAs can refuse to name parental preference and a child needing 1:1 for sensory breaks would not meet that threshold, even if the school objected.

Have you looked at any special schools which might be suitable? If DS is struggling now, it is likely to only become harder for him as he gets older.

Thank you SearchingForSolitude, I'm not sure what the issue is with the sensory breaks, it seemed odd to me also. I think it is due to space constraints e.g. where would the breaks take place. I do think he needs breaks to help him with his regulation and I think this is fairly standard provision so I don't want it left out. I think you are right that without all the provision needed an EHCP won't be successful.

Do you have much knowledge of special schools? I am wondering how I know whether DS should be in special or mainstream?! I don't want to have to move him twice if things don't work out!

I don’t have DC in special school (I have 2 DC with EHCPs - 1 with EOTAS and 1 in MS with an individual timetable and attends AP 2 days a week, and another going through the EHCNA process), but I have helped others who have DC it them.

What do the reports from the EHCNA suggest? They often won’t outright state specialist but sometimes if you read between the lines you can often see that is what is required. If DS is struggling in MS now with a fair amount of support I would seriously look at other placements. The demands, academic and social, increase as DC move through school. The best way is to look at the schools you have within travelling distance - state, independent, mainstream, specialist.

Ah yes thank you I am trying to look around nearby schools. I haven't seen all the reports yet but so far school are suggesting he needs quite a lot of speech/language therapy as well as friendship / social support groups, mental health counselling and extra PE sessions because he is behind with gross motor skills. Also they are saying small class sizes, because that's what he has now, but I don't know how critical that is e.g. with some TA support maybe he would be ok in a bigger class.

MS with some alternative provision sounds interesting

When looking at schools make sure you look at any independent specialist and out of area schools. Normally, for primary 45 mins is considered the maximum recommended travel time. Although some travel further and others can’t travel that far.

If DS is struggling in the current school with the smaller class sizes, I would think very carefully about moving to a bigger class. A TA cannot change the environment of the classroom.

Has DS had an OT assessment?

His needs are usually identified by Ed pysch as part of the EHCP assessment.

Thanks that is good to know about the travel times. I know you can get the travel as part of EHCP but DS would not like it at all so I'd rather be able to take him myself if possible.
We haven't had the OT assessment yet but we are down for one. Same with Ed Psych. The Council is taking a long time to get them arranged (I know they are supposed to do it within deadlines but they don't have the resources).

If the LA is in breach of the statutory timescales email the Director of Children’s Services reminding them of the statutory timescales. If that doesn’t work email again threatening judicial review. Then, if that fails you need a pre-action letter. If they cannot assess in-house they should commission an independent assessment. The LA shrugging their shoulders and saying there is nothing they can do is not acceptable or lawful.