Help please - schools for high functioning older girl with MH issues

[Fleetheart]

Looking for advice please. My niece is 18, very clever but has had several bad bouts of depressions and anxiety culminating in suicide attempts and a stay in a secure unit for a number of weeks.

She is much better but still prone to anxiety- has been diagnosed as autistic also which is relevant. She is really really keen to get back to school and finish A levels but the school are not willing to have her, she takes up too much of the pastoral care team. She is now reluctant to start again with another peer group, but doesn’t look like she’ll have much choice. it’s a private school so they can do what they want.

My feeling is that she needs a programme to help her get back on track- as well as education. My brother has enough money for private school, but doesn’t know where to find this kind of nurturing environment. She herself is obsessed with learning and won’t countenance taking time off; despite the stress it is causing. We are really stuck as to know what or where is right for her. Does anyone have any experience? Ideas? thank you

Does DN have an EHCP? It sounds like one is required, and that a specialist placement is required. Not all independent specialist colleges (the majority of specialist schools who accept post 16 pupils finish at 18/19 so won’t be suitable) allow parents to self fund and when they do they can cost vast amounts.

They could look at Aurora Boveridge College, Cambian Wing college and Wemms. However, all have mixed reviews and only offer a limited number of A levels. There is also West Heath is a SEMH placement is needed, although their A levels are delivered in combination with other local providers off site. Alternatively, they could consider an EOTAS package.

thanks for your advice I will pass this on to him, she doesn’t have an EHCP as she has always done very well at school until the last year or so when the anxiety got so bad. I don’t know if it would be possible at this stage. appreciate your thoughts

They should request an EHCNA. On their website, IPSEA has a model letter they can use. EHCPs are about more than academic ability. They can last until 25, or 26 in some cases.

@Fleetheart I can empathise, my autistic DD had to go down a school year and while she went back to private school, in the end they said they couldn't cope with her needs and we'd be better off homeschooling. My understanding is that an EHCP is a very lengthy process and you will be waiting a long time for help. We were told DD would be better off homeschooled on the first day of this term, so Plan B had to kick in quite quickly as she wants to take her GCSEs next summer. Fortunately we quickly found home tutors (we minimised the subjects to 4 due to ill health) and the 1-1 learning is fantastic for DD - she gets far more out of each lesson than at school. We found through an online search (tutors to your home) and word of mouth locally. There are lots of on line schools - Kings Interhigh is one and they also emphasise having a community, but that is not suitable for my DD as she can't cope with online learning. Both my autistic children get a lot out of learning but the social side and sensory overload at school led them both to crash. Your niece may be determined to carry on as she probably needs something to focus on (been here with both of them) but she needs the right environment and it sounds as though the school doesn't think they are the right one for her. Private schools are not necessarily best placed to help because they don't have to (been there too). We already had links to a couple of local autism groups for the social side otherwise my DD would have felt quite isolated so that is important too. Best of luck.