Good grammar school for SEN in Bucks, Berkshire, Kent Bexley

Advice on Special Needs and the 11 Plus Exams

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Aethel
Posts: 1190
Joined: Sun Dec 20, 2015 6:24 pm

Re: Good grammar school for SEN in Bucks, Berkshire, Kent Be

Post by Aethel »

Which SEN? There are many different needs. Some schools are generally supportive but some have specific strengths for different needs.

Is your child high performing enough to manage the workload of a grammar?

High performing children with ASD and children with mild-moderate dyslexia can do well but actually passing the 11 plus can be difficult for dyslexics with slow processing speed or the children with ADHD who might not be able to focus on the exam day even with adjustments. Even with an EHCP plan (not every SEN child has one) most grammars insist the child passes the exam to be admitted to a grammar. Check the individual schools for SEN admission regulations.

Sometimes non selectives will have better set up SEN processes. we’re on the South Bucks border and our local non selective has an excellent transition support unit and SENCO team including a specialist trained Dyslexia staff member and another experienced in ASD support. They don’t have the word “grammar” in the school title but have a very good reputation for SEN support.

Upton Court Grammar and St Bernard’s both have a good reputation for SEN support in Slough but the journey from Wycombe would be awful, please don’t target them if you live that far away.
hel_tcw
Posts: 91
Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2015 8:42 pm

Re: Good grammar school for SEN in Bucks, Berkshire, Kent Be

Post by hel_tcw »

I was going to add that we have been very happy at St Bernards with the SEN provision even though they will be onto the 3rd SENCo when my DC go 'back'* in September.

For my DD they let her have extra transition days when she was in year 6, this was whilst we were waiting for her to be accessed for ADD. Plus meeting the then SENCo.

*my ds starts in year 7 from September and again he has had 1 extra transition day so we could meet the current and new SENCo.
When we met I suggested things they could do to help him, one of which was having his best friend in the same form, which they have done.

Something to bear in mind is that a grammar school will probably do less "hand-holding" then they had at primary school- the local comp might give more support.

And I agree with Aethel, it doesn't matter how wonderful a school is, if you have to travel miles to get there then you might not get the benefits.
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