Today i look around at a School for ASD children

[Marne]

I just wanted to share with you what i felt today.

I went with a friend to look around a boarding school for ASD children, i thought it would be interesting as Dd2 may need to go to a simalar school one day, they were open today for a careers day (offering jobs).

The school was a private school 7 miles from where we live.

We were shown video's of day to day life at the school and then shown around the 27 acre site.

Over all it is a lovely school for children aged 7-19, they had amazing facilities (sensory rooms, sensory gardens, stables, gym etc..).

Although it is a lovely school i couldn't help feeling a little sad for the children that lived there (some which didn't go home for half term), i just couldn't imagine sending dd2 away to board at a school and only see her in holidays.

I know some ASD children can be challenging but could you really send them to boarding school?

I can see that it would be good for the 16-19 year olds as it gives them indapendence (they teach them to wash clothes, cook etc..), but i just felt sad for the younger children.

I hope i hav'nt offended anyone (if you send your child to boarding school) i just wanted to share my feelings with you.

My friend is having to make this decision for her ds. It's the right decision for her, he is violent, extremely difficult and she is on the verge of breakdown.

She is a single parent and can no longer offer him the stability,structure and level of care that he needs. They're both miserable.

May I ask which school it was btw as my friend is trying to choose one for him.

Was it Prior's Court?

here.
Its a private school as in its not open to anyone but it is also funded (you need a referal).

It is a very good school, the room were very homely, the schools is divided into units, there are between 3 and 6 children in each unit (the units are like bungalows where they stay, each one has a kitchen, sitting room and each child has their own room)

I would say for an older child age 10+ it would be almost a nice as being at home IYKWIM.

Ty for the link.I'll order a brochure for my friend, she doesn't have full time internet access.

Lots of ASD kids need the structure and routine that a 24 hr curiculum offers.

My DS1 has been at a specialist boarding school since he was 10, coming home at weekends. TBH he prefers it at school as it is so structured and routined and he finds it hard to cope with his younger siblings.

Prior to this school, he went to an ICan school that boarded children from 5 yrs old. One of the mothers who sent her son at that age said it was the best thing she had done. They dealt with all his difficult behaviours and gave her breathing space. He went into a mainstream eventually, only because of the imput from the school.

I had a preliminary look at residential schools awhile ago (mainly online but did visit two) and during the course of my 'research', I came across a Website that gave a breakdown of the make-up of a given school's pupil population. There were many schools listed and I only looked at a handful but of those that I did look at, 72% of the pupils were in State care at one school and 49% were in State care at another school. I would hazard a guess that some of the kids that you saw at school during half-term are in State care?

We thought about it long and hard,sending ds1 away.I knew it owuld break every cell of my heart but also that if he stayed home and hurt one of us badly then it would be a lot worse for everyone.

In the end it was a financialchoice not to and I was relieved by that (I amy well have found solutions to the finances but diodnt want to iyswim). But I ca understand why someone would.

The ASD school ds2 goes to has a boarding school type thing for pupils aged 16+ which teaches them independance. They have a few small flats within the school and I think it is a great idea.

I didn't realise there were such boarding schools, a very good idea for those who really need it, but don't think I could send ds2 away. It would break my heart.