First Visit to SN school for dd. What should I be looking for?

[DJAngel]

On tuesday we are going to look at a local SN school and I have no idea what to expect, what I should be asking or how to get the best out of this visit. We have planned to also visit mainstream local schools. My ds is at one of them but when helping out there I've not been overly impressed with management of a child with sn in son's class..

Been told statement process will start this september for possible entry to school Sept '10. She's just summer born so we could defer til Sept 11 but she would have to go into year 1 if at mainstream with a statement, which would be very difficult, or if at SN school then maybe deferring may not be a problem?

All feels very scary. She has only just started nursery after Easter but feel we should start looking and planning..

Any thoughts, advice ideas, particularly about Tuesday's visit very welcome.

Also is it appropriate to ask people about individual schools/ LEA's on here? Still a newbie on these things?

there is a thread on it somewhere ,
But the main thing I looked for was could see older versions of my ds there

looked at class room, asked about toilets what if there still in nappies,what form of communication they use , salt, physio,ot inputs, visual timetables,

an hell I did i picked as many brains as possible while was looking

I looked when ds was almost 3 then went back looked again when he was 3.6 he dues start school in september 2009 be $ in July , but the sn school I want for him takes them term they are 5 so he will stay at nursery extra year as oposed if went ms be f/t this year

Things to think about - maybe include "How happy is everyone there?" Is the head teacher relaxed, cheerful, open, honest with you about challenges as well as good points?

Are any of the children seemingly scared of the people around them?

I'm not good at noticing any of this, so I always take someone with me who is, but they're important things. Any school can put on a 'show' for an hour for prospective parents, so I'd be tempted to ask people whose children are there, too.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=special_needs&threadid=702412-SN-schools-questions-to-ask-on-viewing-he lp-please#14309238

theres link when i was asking if thats any help

Like Phoenix, looking for older versions of your child and trying to imagine her fitting in.

How many hours of physio, OT and SALT does the school have, sometimes they say 'on site'
but this doesn't mean fulltime.

Do they have transport and what kind of outings etc do they go on. Do they have any extra teachers visiting the school like dance, movement etc.

Have a look at a recent ofsted too. If you are happy to say what area you are in then maybe you could CAT someone if they are in your area.

Try to see past scruffy buildings, my child's school is very glossy and new but pretty crap! Have a look at outside space too. Visit more than once and take a trusted pprofessional if you have one!

i second ignore buildingsone i want ds to go to is very short on space so means the older kids are in demountables but it is a fantasic school and the head is great might also be worth mentioing about spaces for year your looking at

Hi all thanks for all your comments and advice.. Phoenix esp thanks for the thread link.. lots of useful ideas there..

vjg- how do you CAT someone? I'm such a technophobe not sure what that means? Happy to say in West Sussex LEA area..

Will check Ofsted later on..

Anyway thanks all again..