There are few things more stressful than relocating. Add children to the mix and it’s a whole other ball game and for families who have children with additional needs, this can be an even more complex process. Here at Whereshome we’re acutely, personally aware of the difficulties faced when choosing who to trust to care for your child with additional needs.
Thanks to our links to the best independent schools in the UK and our extensive knowledge of the UK state school application process, Whereshome is well placed to assist you with your school move and ensure you and your child find a school which will nurture and support them, whatever their individual/additional needs may be.
What type of school works for us?
The most important thing to decide at the start of your search is what type of school your child needs. For children with lower needs, most schools will be able to accommodate them, and the priority will be ensuring the school is generally aligned with your parenting ethos whilst being well versed in your child’s specific needs.
Within the state sector you’ll want to start with taking your child to meet with the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo), school principal and key stage lead of the school to see if they can accommodate your little ones needs.
If you’re in an area with oversubscribed schools the priority will be to do this with your catchment school, but if the area is undersubscribed it’s worth visiting a number of schools to compare. A few key starting points to consider here: a good SENCo can make all the difference, a larger school may offer better resources and a smaller one may be less overstimulating for your child – you’ll know what to prioritise. In the independent sector there are a number of options for children with a variety of educational needs from dyslexia and dyspraxia to ADHD and autism - so the priority is in finding a school which specialises in your child’s specific needs.
This is where Whereshome can help. We have links with hundreds of independent schools across the UK with specialised knowledge on where each of these schools excel with regards to SEN support. You may find that it becomes clear at this point that a mainstream school in both sectors cannot support your child, at which point you may want to look in to the local special needs provision schools which we discuss below.
What can the state sector provide?
If you’re accessing the state sector, the most important thing to do to kick off your search is to decide if your child would benefit from an Education, Health and Care Plan or ‘EHCP’. EHCP’s can take several weeks to compile, apply for and have approved so this is something to think about at the very beginning of your search.
If your child is entering the state sector an EHCP would ensure that there is a legal obligation for the local authority to meet your child’s additional needs. This may be possible within a mainstream setting, or you can choose to have the EHCP state a local SEN provision from the outset. Their EHCP can state exactly the level of support your child needs to thrive at school.
It may be that the local mainstream cannot accommodate your child’s EHCP, but in that instance the local authority will have an obligation to find a school that can and that usually will lead you to a much-coveted place in a local SEN school. For children with significant physical or educational needs, a state SEN school may be the safest option for your child and provide you with the most comprehensive skilled care to allow your child to flourish.
Whilst EHCP’s and requests for SEN school placements can be batted back by local authorities, in around 90% of cases that are appealed or taken to tribunal families win the funding that their child requires. In any case, exploring the idea of an EHCP should be your first step in ensuring your child can access their right to a safe and happy education. There are numerous Facebook groups with fantastic advice and they are often the best place to start.
What can the independent sector provide?
The main selling points of the independent sector for many families with children with additional needs are: smaller class sizes, a personalised approach and access to specialist equipment and support.
There are a number of independent schools that offer specialist dyslexia units, ADHD support and can support autistic children with lower needs. The main thing to consider within the independent sector is cost.
If your child has an EHCP then the school will need to be able to cover your child’s needs as stated, however in the independent sector schools usually cannot access the local authority funding to put in place what an EHCP may state, such as a 1-1 support or specialist equipment. At this point the costs may then fall to the families.
This will vary significantly depending on what your child requires so it’s important to discuss this at your initial meeting to find out what any additional costs may entail. Having said this, many families of children with additional needs find a fantastic and supportive community within the independent school system and it’s a great option for children who require a lower level of support and could flourish in a quieter, more personalised educational environment.