How hard is it to move my child from a special school to mainstream?

My child has attended a special school all primary (ASD was nonverbal but now fully verbal). He now has a place in a special school in high. However, lately I am feeling that maybe the special school is now holding him back socially and academically. Academically he is behind but this is because he doesn't show his ability in school and isn't challenged enough or taught the curriculum as needed. Of course, I am grateful for the tremendous support he has received when he needed it and know so many families struggle to get a placement. However, having met the secondary school, they don't offer GCSEs and only FS in some subjects. Also, socially my child has struggled (outside school he socialises with children from mainstream but the gap is getting wider as he doesn't get enough social opportunities with similar children to him) and I feel it is affecting his development. I am torn between special school and mainstream. Special school is no longer a challenge and mainstream may be too much. However as I am thinking about this, please could someone help whether it is possible to move him to mainstream if the first year of high isn't suitable for him? We don't have any mainstream schools with sen units near us which would have been better. Its either or.
What is the procedure and what do you think is the best way to deal with this? I know he wants to go to college and I don't want to hold him back but I also want him to safe and happy and do what is best for him.
School said when I asked he isn't ready for mainstream but also admitted that he doesn't show his true self in school and have seen glimpses of him that suggests otherwise when teachers are not around.

Can my son take Functional Skills for Maths and English instead of GCSEs?

This is at a mainstream school with ARP (which covers Maths and English). He has an EHCP and school think he will struggle even with the Functional Skills, but they say as a mainstream school they cannot let him only do the FS, he has to do the GCSEs in both subjects as well.

My son tried at mainstream from 2019 to 2024. He is still working at P levels. He would sit on playground and cry. We had AR -in april 24 ehcp draft issued dec 24 and then ehcp feb 25, he has been offered another mainstream? Any ideas?

LA have not given a reason why it's not specialist - they offered a place

Ehcp change of school request

I want to request a change of school place the school says they will say they can meet needs,but his currant school says they will try to argue that he should stay enrolled with them,can they stop me moving him

Fall back position - Mainstream vs Mainstream

I am aware that I can propose a fall back position if the LA preferred school is a special school but what if it’s a mainstream?

Can I ask for mainstream type?

I would be using L vs Wandsworth 2006 - breakdown in relationship.

Leaving Section I blank

Child on roll at mainstream. Emergency Review taking place so an amended Draft Plan has been sent to me. Can my child remain on roll at current school if Section I remains blank whilst the LA consult with schools? NB my child is being educated off-site as the school is named on the EHCP but the school do not want my child on their premises. They excluded my child (unlawfully) which has been rescinded as we said we would leave if they rescinded it. Child had chosen GCSE Options and was due to start them Sept 2024 :( As my child as an EHCP a 'managed move' wasn't possible. I'm absolutely broken and so is my child.

Can council name an out of area mainstream school instead of a local school if both can meet need?

We visited a large number of local mainstream schools (including some suggested by SEN case worker) but didn't think any of them could meet the needs in the EHCP. Therefore we named a specialist school, and an out of area mainstream more experienced in supporting children with similar needs to our daughter. The LA consulted with an additional 4 schools which we / SEN case worker did not consider. We had been clear to our SEN Caseworker that our preference was for a mainstream school if they could meet all of the needs in the EHCP, but that we had not found one locally.

LA named the out of area mainstream due to 'parental preference', and are therefore saying they won't provide transport as they could have named a local school.

What are the scenarios where LA can name a school that was not listed in parental preference? Can LA account for broader information by provided by the parents, not just the actual listed schools?

Phase transfer - negative consultation mainstream

Our preferred mainstream has responded to say unsuitable due to aptitude, ability. The reasons they have provided are nothing that can’t be overcome and would be applicable to the school the LA have named too although their school responded to say “may” be able to meet need. What I’m struggling to understand looking at sections 33 & 39 is how parental preference & mainstream school being made suitable doesn’t support our choice for a particular mainstream.

Year 10 options

Hello,
My son is in year 9 at a mainstream secondary school, however is in a special unit there which they say is a school in between a special school and mainstream. My son is autistic and has speech and language delay. We have been told that for year 10 his options will be level 1 maths and English. I have looked at another school in the area that teaches autistic children and they are offered so much more such as lots of vocational programmes along side there maths and English. Do you think I would be best trying to move him to somewhere that could accommodate him to do that? Would I have a fight on my hands to get the local authority to agree to move him? I am just so worried that he is not being offered more options and the school system is failing him again. Has anyone any positive stories of what their child went on to do?
Thank you in advance

Parents asked recently, should children with ADHD, Autism or other challenges be in mainstream school (rather than special school)?