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Special needs schools - David (3rd Jun 2024  15:37:46) Looking for some guidance about special needs schools in the area. We have a child with additional needs starting school come this September. Unfortunately there’s a lot of bad press about placing people with additional needs into main stream school due to the support just not being there and they also stand out as being different due to everyone else acting and looking normal. Can you please send on details of schools that cater for those with special needs and a bus service that might collect and drop them back every day. We’re new to the area and don’t drive.

Re: Special needs schools - er (3rd Jun 2024  17:22:55) That's a little vague to give much school advice on, special needs is very, very variable between kids. If it's relatively mild issues that just need some extra help and a great learning environment then Stepping Stones in Hindhead could be a good bet, but every kid is different, maybe have a word with them to get started.

Re: Special needs schools - AF (3rd Jun 2024  18:21:29) As a parent with a special needs child it is very complicated. There are different special schools for children with different needs. For instance a child with learning difficulties or disabled may go to Hollywater in Bordon, but a child on the autistic spectrum would go to Waterlooville. As for transport the council will supply that, normally a taxi with an escort, they would normally pick up several children. Also to add to the difficulties most schools are oversubscribed and it took us 2 years to get a suitable placement, you need to fight to get what you and your child need. Best of luck.

Re: Special needs schools - er (3rd Jun 2024  20:09:32) Sorry I should have said Undershaw, it's new(ish )name since it moved into the wonderful site of the old Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's home, it's run by a very well regarded charity, you would still need an EHCP though to get your child sent there as a state subsidised place.

Re: Special needs schools - Richard (3rd Jun 2024  21:28:15) If you have a child with special needs so you really need to look at schools which are equipped to deal with them. It’s unfair to place them in our already over stretched and under funded public school system because you want to them appear to be living a normal life. You need to be fair to them and the other children you’ll be affecting by placing them into mainstream school.

Re: Special needs schools - Rachel Rabbit (3rd Jun 2024  22:44:16) Both my children went to Stepping Stones, now moved to Undershaw. Hope you find the right place.

Re: Special needs schools - Polly (3rd Jun 2024  22:50:40) Richard, you seem to have misunderstood the original post which makes no suggestion that the original poster wishes to send their child to a state school, quite the opposite in fact. They are simply looking for appropriate educational provision for their child, and asking advice.

Re: Special needs schools - D (4th Jun 2024  19:42:47) This is where the old streaming system in schools was better. All levels of ability in the same school yet you didn't have the less able ones holding back the more able ones. This system was much more inclusive as you had children of all abilities mixing together regardless of intelligence level. Surely the special school system is going to alienate special needs children and make them feel excluded from mainstream education. Is this labelling at an early age really doing them any favours in later life? Job opportunities etc? Society (or the education system?) seem keen to label a child as early as possible. Surely mixing with non special needs children is going to be more beneficial.

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