School praised for special needs work

3:23pm Wed Jan 18, 2012

I was interested to read the article, Views Sought On New School Need (Advertiser, December 8) regarding the possibility of setting up a free school for children with special educational needs.

I didn’t agree with the statement that there is nothing for children who are academically able but can’t cope in a mainstream setting.

I have a son on the autistic spectrum who struggles with communication and social skills but excels at maths and ICT.

However, we have been very fortunate in finding him a place at Dawn House School in Rainworth, run by children’s communication charity ICAN.

The school provides intensive and specialist support for children and young people aged five to 19 who have either severe speech, language and communication needs or Asperger Syndrome which prevent them from realising their full potential intellectually, academically and socially.

My son joined the school five years ago and is currently in year 11, and very much hopes to continue into the Further Education department of the school.

When he joined the school he was suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder due to his anxieties caused by his condition and his sensory problems.

At his mainstream school he regularly ran out of lessons and was very difficult to manage in spite of the very best efforts of the staff there.

But since his time at Dawn House School he has gone from strength to strength.

The school is based in a quiet environment with small class sizes and specialist staff including speech and language therapists and occupational therapists alongside the specialist teachers.

I noticed my son’s anxiety levels to be reduced almost immediately upon him joining the school and he has been able to work on improving his communication and social skills as well as achieving academically.

I am particularly proud that he has achieved a grade A in his GCSE maths a year early, and is currently working at AS level maths.

I was also amazed when he completed a week of work experience this year carrying out grounds maintenance at another school as part of his horticulture course; this was a massive achievement considering his underlying OCD needs.

I can’t praise the school and the staff highly enough and I wish more families with special needs children were aware of what is available to them in Nottinghamshire. ).

— ALISON SLINGER, Southwell (Full address supplied