Choosing a school

Choosing a school for your child can be a stressful time. For most parents of the non-SN variety choice is based on location and OFSTED reports. For SN families we have the added stresses of, can the school cope with our child? can our child cope with the school? what provisions does the school have for special educational needs? And is the school accessible?

When the time came to chose a school for Dude I had no idea where to start. I'd always imagined my son to go to the local school but when i was told there where quite a few sets of stairs I panicked. I wasn't even sure if mainstream was the right choice for him. So, I enlisted the help from the education welfare lady at the CDC unit Dude was under for his disabilities.

At first we had a look around the Special School that served our area. Taking Dude with us, we looked at the early years class.  I thought it was great. All accessible for his special buggy and his walking frame. Changing facilities and on site physio, occupational therapist and speech and language therapist. He could access EVERYTHING in the classroom. Then the staff told me that they felt that as he got bigger they wouldn't be able to keep up with him academically. 'He is too clever' I was told.

You'd probably think GREAT! But no, i felt like he didn't 'belong' anywhere. That feeling was made bigger when I went to see the local mainstream school. The foundation unit (nursery and reception classes) were built separate to the rest of the school with no corridor between the classrooms. It was a real struggle for Dude to get around the classroom. No changing facilities and to get through to the hall was a complete nightmare. Once we fought our way through to the rest of the school I could see that the classrooms where bigger and set out better. But Dude had 2 yrs before he was to be in them classes. There were stairs with one having a platform lift and the other avoided via the playground and ramps. The Headmistress and Nursery Teacher did seem like they wanted Dude though and we're willing to try out whatever so that he could access the school.

We had one more school to look at. The local CofE school. It had much better access and tons of space to move around the classrooms. There wasn't any changing facilities in this school either. But there were no stairs to contend with and unlike all the other schools, once he had a place we didn't have to apply again for him to have a place in the main school. I really liked this school. We found out that his name was down as the 31st place and there was only 30 places in the class. Head had said that they don't normally get all 30 places taken as people change their minds or they move away so he should be ok to get in. I wouldn't know untill April if he got his place.

Meanwhile the first mainstream school had said they'd hold a place there until April as well. They changed their minds. They wanted to know if I wanted the place NOW! I couldn't give them an answer. It's not that easy with a kid like Dude to just say YES! I needed to know he was at the right school. I wanted to know if he'd got into the CofE with the no stairs and the added extra of a CORRIDOR!

Alas, he didn't get the place at the CofE. All 30 places were accepted and so I had to accept the place at the local mainstream. It didn't turn out as bad as I thought it would. We had a transition meeting where the education welfare lady said Dude didn't require any extra support. Erm, the boy is unable to stand or walk unaided, was doubly incontinent, was under going assessments for autism and epilepsy and has dysphagia. He needed full 1:1 support for his safety, well being and to access all aspects of his education. Fortunately the school agreed with me and employed a 1:1 for him.

We had a few teething problems, but who doesn't, and hes loving school. We still have little wobbles with access regarding his frame or wheelchair every now and then but after some trial and error we get there.

We'll always come across challenges whilst at school. I'm abit apprehensive about next year. He's going to have to deal with the first lot of steps to access dinner hall, assembly hall and playground. These are the steps with the platform lift so we'll see how it goes.

School, they try hard to be accessible!

Stagecoach (the stage school NOT the buses!)

Today Dude started stage school. After ALOT of planning and arranging then rearranging he was able to start. And he loved it!!

I first approached the school back in Febuary of this year and the head mistress arranged for us to go and have a look at the building and how the Early Years classes work.

Initially I was disheartened as the building was old and had many, many steps. The class was deep inside the building and there were two big flights of stairs. Even the fire exit had stairs. I really couldnt see how it was going to be possible for Dude to participate safely. I'd had to leave his wheelchair at the top of the flight of stairs and carry him down and into the classroom. He had really enjoyed joining in with all the singing, dancing and acting. I just couldn't find a way round all the stairs.

I went away to think and discuss with Dudes school whether they knew of a how to get Dude a 1:1 whilst he was there, if I and/or the Stagecoach Head could work out a way for him to get in and out of the classroom.

A few weeks later I received a phone call from Stagecoach saying that she'd sorted moving the Early Years class to the Libary and we were to come in via the fire exit situated in the hall. This ment that we missed out the first flight of stairs to get down to the level where the Libary was.

So we started today. There was still 4 steps to get into the libary but I was able to leave his wheelchair at the bottom and lift him and his walking frame up onto the carpeted area. He had a great time. We had a little problem when at breaktime all the children went to the toilet. The only disabled toilet is located at the front entrance.... up the flight of stairs we'd avoided by entering the building via the fire exit. I managed to toilet him on the general toilets with some difficult but then I have the same problem when he needs toileting at home and we are up stairs.

To summarise, Stagecoach have done all they could, given the building they are based in (doesn't belong to stagecoach. Its a local mainstream High School) They wanted and welcomed Dude and are constantly asking me if there is anything else we need. We wasn't able to get Dude a 1:1 as there are none available so I'm there at all times for him. The teacher adapts the dancing and movement for Dude so that he is included in everything. We both came away happy today and cant wait for next week!

About us

I wanted to start by telling you a little about us.

My son, Dude is 5 years old and has Cerebral Palsy and Autism. He also comes with a few extras but these are the main diagnosis. I also have my own mobility problems in the form of Ehlers Danlos Syndrome type 3 and Fibromyalgia.



It's not simple for us to leave the house. Gosh I wish it were. I sometime wish that I could just say "Dude, go get your shoes and coat on, we're going out!" but I will never be able to say that.

Even just to go to school I have to make sure he has his splints and boots on and lift him into his wheelchair which all takes time, especially if he's in an uncooperative mood.


If we're going anywhere other than school or the local shop it takes planning! lots of planning. The first question is always Is it accessible?

I check websites, phone places up and have to check if I can get him there. I don't drive so rely on public transport (which is an
adventure in its self)

I'll be blogging about our outings and whether they where ACCESSIBLE!