Special needs schools in the UK!?

my 4 year old son has autism also. he never spoke a word it was always grunting. he started in a special needs school last january & he started talking in march. i really ***** believe it honestly as i was told that he probably wud never talk & i wish the person who told me that cud see him now coz he never stops talking. i was very wary at the thought of sending him to special needs school & if im honest maybe a bit embarrassed too but i am sooo happy with the progress he has made i now feel guilty for feeling like that in the first place. the teachers & classroom assistants are brilliant ***** ask for better. so please dont worry if he needs to go to special needs school then send him. if he went to mainstream the cud be the possibility of bullying. good luck

Most children with an autistic spectrum disorder are encouraged to go to mainstream school in the UK. Very often these schools have a special needs unit within the school. Special schools do exist and most local education authorities still have them. The special schools are usually for those with multiple or very complex needs who are unable to attend mainstream school. The most usual practice at the moment especially with autism is to try where ever possible to keep the child in inclusive education within the mainstream environment, but, if the child does not do well in mainstream there is always the option of moving to a special school. Special schools do have a lot of stigma attached to them but the ratio of teaching staff to pupils is usually very high. Also in special schools the education and curriculum is much more tailored to the individuals needs. Another way autistic children cope in mainstream is by the use of an autism out-reach service, usually run by the local authority which does monitor all children in mainstream who have an ASD diagnosis. As your son is only 2 and autistic children's behaviour changes quite a lot you should not worry too much at the moment about what school he will be best suited to. Good luck.

My son (autistic) went to a unit within a mainstream infant and junior school. This worked really well for him as it gave him the best of both worlds. he had the specialised input and knowledge within the unit but he also had supported access to, and interaction with, his mainstream peers. When he was old enough for secondary school there was no provision of the same kind so we opted for specialist schooling run by the national autistic society. He was very happy there and made good progress throughout his school life. At 2 years old he didn't sleep, eat or talk. Now he talks non-stop, eats like a horse and has relatively good understanding. Go and visit the schools in your area to see what they have to offer. Whatever school you decide on, it has to be the best environment for him in terms of his sensory needs as well as his educational needs. If you decide to send him to mainstream schooling you need to be sure that the staff have a good understanding of his individual needs and that they have had training in working with children with autism. I wish you the very best.

My son is autistic and is in a unit within a mainstream school. I found that these schools are great they are trained to educate you son the way that he will understand. good luck.

can you tell me more? cheers