No school for autistic ds8...

[mitch84]

You obviously do need to keep fighting. But can he not be home schooled temporarily?

[Lpf]

Thank you so much for all the messages. There’s some great sounding schools I’m going to look at!

We’ve done the whole emergency review, all professionals involved, support from the agencies etc. The problem is in Devon there are no schools. There are very few specialist schools and most are for more severe learning disabilities. There’s a fair few independent specialists but they are all forest school/outdoors/animal type provisions and ds needs a school and to be learning as that’s what makes him tick. There are no schools for autism/explosive behaviour and academics. Hence why no one will accept him - they all say they can’t meet his needs in one way or another.
I’ve put in so many complaints and pestered daily and fought with so many people but if there’s no school to fight for...there’s no school to fight for 😢😢. It’s so sad. And appalling.

[CarolynU]

Blame Mary Warnock who wrote some sort of report recommending shutting specialist schools down, which the government of the day jumped all over as these schools were massively expensive. Her idea was that these schools stigmatised children and that they should be in mainstream with support. Of course as you and thousands of others over the years have realised for one reason or another this doesn’t work for some children. Even she has recognised that she was wrong, but it’s now too late.

[BarryandCaron]

DS went to a specialist National Autistic School in South Yorkshire. I would try home schooling with private tutors until you can get a permanent school placement. It’s a long battle I’m afraid but worth it in the long term. Good luck.

[nadya]

Originally Posted by CarolynU

Blame Mary Warnock who wrote some sort of report recommending shutting specialist schools down, which the government of the day jumped all over as these schools were massively expensive. Her idea was that these schools stigmatised children and that they should be in mainstream with support. Of course as you and thousands of others over the years have realised for one reason or another this doesn’t work for some children. Even she has recognised that she was wrong, but it’s now too late.

See more...

Yes they are moving towards inclusion for all in our area,which is a lovely thought,but doesnt work in practice for some kids,especially when the support that is supposed to be available in a mainstream environment doesnt materislise!

[maznorm]

As a parent with an autistic child currently at home because her special school could no longer meet her needs, I understand.

We have fought with the LA to get them to be willing to look at Independent Special Schools but they are all also saying they cannot meet her needs or that they are full.

We are looking like we will be without a school for her at least until September. I am currently unofficially home schooling her as she is still registered at her original school. I have had to give up work to do so.

I know how hard it can be to see them want to make friends and have no opportunity to do it. I also know how hard it can be to not get that "respite" that you may get whilst they are at school. I have 2 boys as well who are in school so it is hard for her to see them leave every day.

Have you looked at Free Schools? They are springing up all over the place and vary greatly. It can be a battle to get the LA to agree to them but if none of the area schools are able to meet your son's needs then you have good cause. We are at a point where we are even considering setting one up ourselves (half heartedly/half jokingly as I think it requires more ability than we have). There are so many kids being failed by the education system available to them.

Feel free to PM me if you fancy a chat/rant/vent.

[jndt]

I know this thread is nearly a year old but I often wonder how your children are getting on. Hope the situation has improved for you all.

[Lpf]

I’ve just read this thread back and I’d almost forgotten how bad things were then.

My son is completely different now and doing SO well. The LEA basically forced the only autism school in our area to take him (they said no because he’s too smart and was too explosive then) but once they started working with him to transition, they realised that was him in a very bad school. He’s been there everyday since September and is totally different - calm, controlled, happy, has friends and they do so much with him to help him learn and develop.

I hope everyone else is in a better place too.

[Omega1]

Thanks for the update - that’s lovely news.

[Jan]

That is great news indeed. Thanks for replying.