Hi. I’m new on here and need some advice.

Hello.

What you have written doesn't give any one here much to go on I'm afraid.

Is your son autistic?

Why has his current school said your son needs a "special school"?

Perhaps think about some details you could add and then re-post on the Parents forum rather than this Misc. and chat line.

I hope this is useful to you.

I’m new on here and don’t know what I’m allowed to disclose. My son has been diagnosed with autism, he’s selective non verbal. And he’s 2 years behind. He is struggling to keep up with the work at school as well as being in class. He has a support teacher who has him and another child.  He doesn’t want to move to a special needs school. I’m not sure what to do? Any advice would be great.

I really depends on what the mainstream school and specialist school can offer to help your son. If smaller class sizes and more focused instruction is available at the specialist school it might be in your son's interest to go there. You need to find out what the available schools offer. I think if your son is two years behind his age group then the mainstream school has already failed him to some extent. You need to consider what is best for him long-term, and feelings of stigma he might have about attending a specialist school will probably be short-term.

I was selectively mute when I started school, so I know how it feels.

I really depends on what the mainstream school and specialist school can offer to help your son. If smaller class sizes and more focused instruction is available at the specialist school it might be in your son's interest to go there. You need to find out what the available schools offer. I think if your son is two years behind his age group then the mainstream school has already failed him to some extent. You need to consider what is best for him long-term, and feelings of stigma he might have about attending a specialist school will probably be short-term.

I was selectively mute when I started school, so I know how it feels.