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Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

SN children

Any recommendations for MS secondary in South London great with kids with ASD?

18 replies

cardboardcactus · 12/09/2013 23:14

Just that really! If anyone has any experience of a mainstream secondary school in south London that supports children on the spectrum really well (doesn't have to have an ASD unit) I'd love to hear. DS is in year 5 and I am starting to stress about this. We are prepared to move within South London, but ideally it would be south east London.

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cardboardcactus · 13/09/2013 14:50

Oh dear. Beginning to be concerned that the lack of replies means that no-one with a child on the spectrum has had a good experience of a ms secondary in south London....

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sickofsocalledexperts · 13/09/2013 15:48

I have heard good things about Teddington school for autistic kids at the hf end. ABA schools are good, eg Rainbow, Jigsaw, but have historically tended to cater for the moderate to severe end.

cardboardcactus · 13/09/2013 15:56

Thanks sickof. I am thinking more of mainstream schools but these are good to know about.

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frizzcat · 13/09/2013 16:17

Heard good things about Bonus Pastor in Downham, it's a carh

frizzcat · 13/09/2013 16:19

Ah knickers posted before ready

Bonus Pastor is in Downham, it's Catholic but as with all faith schools they have to take non-faith dc too. They are a science and maths specialist too. Know if lots of supported children there and they and their dps are happy with it

frizzcat · 13/09/2013 16:22

Riverston are an independent fee paying school, heard good things from parents of ASD who's dc go there.
However, I do know there is someone on this board who didn't rate them - maybe they'll be along and can give you some insight into any issues.

They are mainstream but support SEN

ItsaTIARA · 13/09/2013 16:25

Marking place because also in this situation. Some people have recommended Ashcroft in Putney.

frizzcat · 13/09/2013 16:33

I will be in this position next year, ds is Yr4 but I've been casting feelers out now!

inbromley · 13/09/2013 16:56

Bit further south east _ we are in the London Borough of Bromley. Both Ravenswood (boys)and Darrick Wood (mixed) are outstanding comps and we agonised I bit over which one to send our HFA DS to - both have good reputations for support. We chose DW in the end and it is early days so far - DS has done 10 days in Y7!

DS had an 'upset' with a teacher earlier in the week (he felt he was unjustly told off and became convinced the teacher didn't like him...) and then it became difficult to get him to go in. I rang yesterday lunchtime and explained. By the end of the day, DS's form tutor had been notified and spoke to him, the SENCO bought him down to her office for a chat, she spoke to the teacher involved and then rang me to update me. I was pretty impressed with the promptness of their response and DS seems reassured.

OTOH I can recommend you avoid the super selective boys grammar in Orpington - we won a case of disability discrimination against them in respect of our older HFA DS.....

frizzcat · 13/09/2013 17:05

Which one is that Bromley St Olaves?
Heard Beth's and Bexley grammar were supportive, but tbh I'm not going after the grammars

inbromley · 13/09/2013 17:23

Yes - you named the school correctly - it's in Orpington rather than Bromley.

After our experience with older DS we decided against grammars - and they would be an hour's journey which wouldn't be best for our DS. We looked at Dartford grammar and Judd in Tonbridge - they seemed geared up to support HFA but again, an hour's journey away.

Langley Park boy's school (also an outstanding comp) has an ASD base (of some sort - apparently the pupils aren't taught in it at all) and I would have considered that on the basis the expertise was there, although DS wouldn't have been eligible for the base as he doesn't have a statement. But we wouldn't have got in because the cathchment is pretty small.

cardboardcactus · 13/09/2013 17:34

Thanks for the replies. Does anyone have any experience of Forest Hill Boys?

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frizzcat · 13/09/2013 17:38

No I haven't, there are people on this board from that area, not sure if they just primary dc - hopefully someone will be along

nennypops · 13/09/2013 20:55

I heard of two families who lost appeals against placements at Darrick Wood for ASD children only to have the school decide within a few months it couldn't cope. I wouldn't be too keen.

inbromley · 13/09/2013 21:42

That sounds like the placements weren't appropriate in the first place if the parents were appealing against them and the school couldn't cope. And I suppose 'ASD children' is a pretty loose term to cover a huge spectrum. I certainly wouldn't suggest DW would be appropriate for all ASD children.

WildAndWoolly · 14/09/2013 09:16

I've heard good things about Graveney in Tooting (but it's crazy selective) and Ashcroft in Putney. My eldest is in year 5 so we've got a year to choose one for him.

I'd say wait and see because it depends how your DS reacts to school as to whether he'll be better at an academic school, small nurturing school etc.

I've been told not Southfields, and not Ernest Bevin if that helps.

WildAndWoolly · 14/09/2013 09:17

Ah, just saw your DS is in year 5, not 5 years old! I really should learn to read properly

drowningbynumbers · 16/09/2013 20:29

If you want to know about Forest Hill boys call SIGNAL - Lewisham group. Pretty sure they'll have knowledge.

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