Questions to ask a SENCO about mainstream secondary for autistic children

[AralVorkosigan]

I have a meeting with a SENCO later this week to talk about whether their school would work for my kids, it’s a mainstream independent secondary.

My kids are both autistic, one also dyslexic. One has a lot of anxiety, issues with emotional regulation and school refusal but is very articulate and good academically. The other is much calmer and happier but struggles with communication, understanding the academic work and coping with disruption. Both are fully verbal, good socially, have friends.

Any particular suggestions for what I should be asking/exploring at this stage? I was planning to describe each child’s needs and current accommodations and ask what support this school could offer?

You could ask:
-How many DC with SEN do they have on roll? (If your DC have EHCPs I would also ask how many DC with EHCPs they have. If the answer is none, I would ask if they have previously had DC with EHCPs.)
-Class sizes?
-Do they set? If so, when and what subjects?
-How much homework is there?
-How many GCSEs do DC take? Is there any flexibility in that? Do they offer some non-GCSE qualifications?
-What support do they provide other DC with similar needs?
-What support with transition do they offer for those with SEN?
-Do they have a quieter room/lunch club DC who are overwhelmed with the hall/playground can go?
-Do they have a SEN department DC can go during lessons if overwhelmed &/or where interventions can/are delivered?
-What extra curricular clubs do they run?
-Where do their DC move on to?

If any of the below are relevant to you you could ask:
-Do they have DC who have reasonable adjustments to the uniform policy?
-Do they have DC who can’t cope with the hustle and bustle of arriving/leaving school and have different arrangements for arriving at school (such as arriving 5/10 mins late via reception)/leaving (such as leaving 5 mins early)?
-Do they allow DC to use noise cancelling headphones/ear defenders?
-Where do children take movement breaks?
-How does the school reduce/prevent sensory overwhelm?

With it being an independent school, you do need to be careful with exactly how much you push. If you would like a place, you don’t want to scare them off.

Thank you @roaringdragon thats a really helpful list!

It’s a hard balance as you say, I don’t want to be too pushy or give too dismal a view of my kids’ needs in case they then tell admissions not to take us, but I also want the info!