Tram House school, Earlsfield

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DS is 12yo and would chronologically be in y8. We are currently doing home learning under an EOTAS package as no specialist secondary school within a hour of where we live said they could meet his needs. He has ASD and learning disabilities.

The LA have said that they will consult with Tram House. It is just over an hou/ drive from us, probably more
like 1hr 15-30minutes at rush hour. It’s a long way.

Does anyone have any experience of this school please?

No personal experience, but I have heard good things.

1hr15 is typically considered the recommended maximum travel time for secondary. Although many travel further.

As an aside, you say DS has home learning via an EOTAS package. I may be reading too much into it, but a proper EOTAS package should be made up of more than home learning and it shouldn’t be reliant on you.

Thank you. Yes, we have daily tutors to deliver the learning elements and that’s all funded. It’s working well in terms of education, but it’s not great in terms of socialising or independence.

I’m glad you’ve heard good things. What kind of thing?!

I will have to do the drive during school drop off and pick up hours to work out whether it’s just too far. DS can’t access transport (issues around control and rigidity) so it would be me taking and/or collecting him, or making arrangements with someone who could do that. I don’t fancy it much.

That is a very poor EOTAS package. A good EOTAS package would cover far more than that. Therapies, resources, equipment, professional time, mentoring, accessing the community, sports/exercise, art/music/cookery/whatever DS’s interests are… If DS remains with EOTAS, you should appeal to secure a far better package.

The two cases I know of, the child’s anxiety reduced significantly once settled in the school and with the support they provided. For both families, this made their everyday lives easier for them, especially outside the home.

Would the transport issues be resolved with an individual taxi? Maybe with you going with DS and an escort to begin with?