To want ds to repeat year 5?

[Wthamidoingwrong]

Is that even possible?
he has an echp. Autism and adhd. Summer born so youngest in year group.
very bright but due to massive lack of support from school, is working towards year 2 level.
In his Ed psych assessments for most areas of learning he scored in the very-high category so I'm not biased in thinking he's capable with the right support- he is, he just hasn't been getting it.
we're now at the point of looking for a specialist school because school can't meet his needs but I'm thinking it might be better for him, if he could move schools to a smaller and more sen friendly mainstream school, but into year 4 so he would have almost 3 years to "catch up" and then possibly be able to manage mainstream secondary. (Or possibly not but atleast he would have had a more fair chance)

Have you spoken to his current school about this? Is he unhappy in his current school? Or just not doing as well academically as you think he should?
I'd be reluctant to move him if it means that when he then gets a place at his special school he may have to move again.

That is very very unlikely to happen.

I think it’s a good plan. You can have a child repeat a year in such a situation. I think changing schools is a good way to do it as well for the reasons you listed and also because with new classmates and such the stigma and thus chance of bullying will be much less.

I have two DC with autism. One also has severe dyslexia. We did move her to a smaller Montessori style school for similar reasons. Gave her a chance to catch up and start to flourish. She’s doing fantastic now at St Andrews Uni. So yes, the sky is the limit once they get the right support.

I wouldn’t delay because spaces in specialist schools are often hard to come by and it may be several years before that is even an option.

His current school have been dreadful tbh, they don't follow his echp, and don't seem to care if he learns a single thing as long as he isn't annoying them. he hates school and won't engage at all.
I'm really on the fence about a special school- a large part of me thinks the reason he is at the point of needing a special school is because this school have almost traumatised him from the way he's been treated by them.

If he's a bright kid who's performing below standard because school are failing to engage with him and have been for years, surely ANY move is preferable? Knowing how hard it can be to get into a special school, could you not move him to another mainstream school and then look at support to help him catch up in those two years?