Choosing a school
Start early
Look into the different options available well ahead of time. Many metropolitan areas have “school expos,” where prospective families can consider a wide range of schools. Most schools have web sites and offer school tours on a periodic basis.
Waitlist
Put you name down on the waitlist of every school you are interested in. You never know which one will become available, and it’s good to keep you options open.
Do they want you?
Enrolling your child at school should not be a fight. Choose a school that wants to include your child and your family. It may not be always be smooth sailing, but the school should want to have your child as part of their community.
Culture
Make sure you meet the principal and other key players (e.g. the head of learning support), take a tour of the school and get a sense of what the school culture and environment is like.
Respect
Choose schools who will value and respect your child, their abilities and their differences.
Input
Consider schools who are willing to welcome parent / professional input when it comes to the best interests of your child.
Be positive
Be proactive and informed, but still positive and polite. People will always be more responsive if they are respected.
Your child’s rights
Know your child’s rights and where to turn for help We have listed great resources below around this.
The school years can be divided into different stages:
Looking for a primary school
This can be such a challenging time. Many schools are simply not at all welcoming. You may be unsure as to whether a specialist school or a mainstream school will work best.
The Australian Autism Handbook has a great chapter called “Choosing the right school.” We highly recommend reading this before you begin the process.
