How do I choose the right school or college?
The OAASIS information sheet ‘Finding a Special Needs school' will list organisations and websites to help you in your search and of course you can always contact OAASIS for help and advice.
In addition, the OAASIS information sheet ‘Independent Special schools – what to look for’ will give you invaluable pointers about the things you should be looking out for and questions to ask.
Considering a move to a special residential school or college will be a daunting and challenging experience, and one which can be confusing and worrying for both parents and child.
View the lists of special needs that a school or college can meet with a certain amount of scepticism: make sure the school addresses the difficulties of the conditions, and doesn't just contain them - or think they can cope as “we had a student with this diagnosis a year or so back”.
Check that staff receives training in their students' particular difficulties. Go for a school or college which offers the right range of special needs; be wary of those which profess to cover many. Nothing is as important as making a personal visit, on a normal working day, to a short-list of several schools.
Check also if the school has had a recent Ofsted or CSCI (Commission for Social Care Inspection) visit.
'OK, I’ve drawn up my list'. Now is the time to arrange some informal visits. Once you have drawn up a list of those which appear to be suitable contact each for their prospectus.
Try not to take your child with you on these preliminary informal trips - they may become excited, confused and agitated, especially if they visit several in a short space of time.
Your aim should be to produce a list of no more than four schools which you believe may suit your child’s requirements. Take advice from the school about whether your child should accompany you and make sure you visit when the school/college is open and busy.
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