Special school

[Love2nag]

Hi our daughter has a diagnosis of ARND and she has just received a statement of special needs.She has moderate learning difficulties but huge difficulties in emotional learning/ understanding / self regulation/ sensory overload etc....We would like to pursue a special school place.Does anyone have any experience ?

[MiniV07]

we have a statement for our 7yr old,finalised last year,at first they said she should remain in mainstream school,however,we knew that this would not be the best placement for her as she is well below her age for learning/emotional and behavior needs,we appealed the decision and contacted parent partnership who were a fantastic help,and guidance for us,we used examples of her achievements when taught in 'specialist' surroundings ie she rides at the RDA , and also the lack of understanding that her school have of her FAS, they always focus on the ADHD symptoms,we got a placement in the school of our choice,her pediatrician also backed our claim, however, we are still waiting for a vacancy since September 14,and we may have to wait until September 2015

[Goggas-mum]

Our son has coped ok in primary school, although for the last couple of years, he has not really followed the curriculum, but his excellent TA manages to keep him occupied and sneak learning objectives in. However, in September he will go to a special secondAry school. Obviously there are no FASD schools, but i believe it is important that they go to a school that specialises as much as possible in each child's main problems and has appropriate peers. We are hoping that our son will get in to a school for children with Speech, language and communication needs, having visited 14 schools this was the one where the other kids seemed most like ours. I wouldn't have dreamt of visiting it had an ed psych. not mentioned it to me. One other school that seemed to 'fit' was for children with fairly high functioning ASDs.

If your child's school /nursery are not very helpful, then I would get parent partnership in as Miniv07 says and if you can afford it, get advice from a private ed psych.

Good luck!

[Love2nag]

Many thanks you have confirmed what I suspected,my current worry is the wait for the right school.Her current school have little training in anxiety issues / self regulation/ attachment problems and do not anticipate receiving the training for some time.It does not give me confidence..

Many thanks especially on the speech and language angle