Setting up a 'Free School' for high functioning children in Plymouth

Clearly the local authority is failing these young people and their exceptional abilities.

Clearly the local authority is failing these young people and their exceptional abilities.

My grandson, who lives in Plymouth has autism and is in need of special education.

My grandson, who lives in Plymouth has autism and is in need of special education.

This school is sorely needed in Plymouth and around the country. So many people are not achieving their full potential because mainstream schools are a confusing battlefield for them. Without a suitably supportive and understanding foundational experience in both educational and life learning they grow up and still experience the world as a confusing battlefield. How can someone grow when they are battling to get through the day? How can someone give their best when they are battling to get though the day? To find a positive place in our world our children need a positive experience of the world, and a lot of that comes from school.

This school is sorely needed in Plymouth and around the country. So many people are not achieving their full potential because mainstream schools are a confusing battlefield for them. Without a suitably supportive and understanding foundational experience in both educational and life learning they grow up and still experience the world as a confusing battlefield. How can someone grow when they are battling to get through the day? How can someone give their best when they are battling to get though the day? To find a positive place in our world our children need a positive experience of the world, and a lot of that comes from school.

I support the establishment of a free school for high functioning autistic children

I support the establishment of a free school for high functioning autistic children

What a fantastic idea, not just for the children but for the parents. They can drop their children off at school in the morning and feel safe they are in the place best for them and their learning as every child and parent should be entitled to do.

What a fantastic idea, not just for the children but for the parents. They can drop their children off at school in the morning and feel safe they are in the place best for them and their learning as every child and parent should be entitled to do.

Every child deserves the chance to realise their potential in an environment where they feel safe and understood.

Every child deserves the chance to realise their potential in an environment where they feel safe and understood.

I shared this petition on a friends facebook page earlier. One of her friends then commented that she has set up a school like this in Cumbria and said this "I am happy for you to pass my details on to those trying to set up the school too. The lack of provision for children with Autism is a huge problem Nation wide.I have been home schooling my 11 year old for the last 4 years due to lack of suitable provision.As parents of Autistic children if we can help each other in any way we fight together" here is the link to her site http://www.cumbriaacademyforautism.co.uk/ I am not the parent of a child with extra needs but I came on here to pass on message and have no idea how to get it to the people who are trying to get this school started. Can anyone help? Is anyone aware of how to contact the people that started this petition please to pass this on?

As a very concerned grandmother of a high functioning autistic grandson there doesn't appear to be an appropriate school placement for him in Plymouth. He has already been failed at mainstream level prior to a late diagnosis even though it was recognised in his early years. We fear for his future schooling in Plymouth as a alternative provision is desperately needed.

As a very concerned grandmother of a high functioning autistic grandson there doesn't appear to be an appropriate school placement for him in Plymouth. He has already been failed at mainstream level prior to a late diagnosis even though it was recognised in his early years. We fear for his future schooling in Plymouth as a alternative provision is desperately needed.

Essential...no brainer!

Essential...no brainer!

I am lucky that none of my children have had any special educational needs. I have various friends with autistic children and have listened often to the ongoing battle of trying to put things in place, keep things in place and manage how their children are cared for and provided for at school. It appears to be a full time job, making sure their kids are ok even when they are not with them. With all that seems to come with caring for your child with problems such as this outside of school, I am actually quite shocked to hear of the lack of provision for so many families and their children. I naively just assumed there was an education out there for everyone to cater for varying degrees of need. We definitely need a school like this in Plymouth and I hope these parents and children do not have to fight too long to make it happen as they shouldn't need to fight at all! Good luck!

I am lucky that none of my children have had any special educational needs. I have various friends with autistic children and have listened often to the ongoing battle of trying to put things in place, keep things in place and manage how their children are cared for and provided for at school. It appears to be a full time job, making sure their kids are ok even when they are not with them. With all that seems to come with caring for your child with problems such as this outside of school, I am actually quite shocked to hear of the lack of provision for so many families and their children. I naively just assumed there was an education out there for everyone to cater for varying degrees of need. We definitely need a school like this in Plymouth and I hope these parents and children do not have to fight too long to make it happen as they shouldn't need to fight at all! Good luck!

I wholeheartedly support this proposal!