Is it possible for child with AS to thrive in mainstream school?

[frutilla]

My son has just been diagnosed with AS and it's going to be a few months on waiting lists before he can get the tests the psychologist advised that he needs. Meanwhile it's a nightmare doing home-learning with him, near impossible. A few short sentences have to be dictated letter by letter, he refuses to copy a picture as requested and so I provide a blank for him to colour in but even that proves too much. I really can't see how he can possibly progress without one to one help or by switching to a special school. He is of average or above intelligence but cannot focus on set tasks. Any advice or experiences? Thanks!!

Ds1 has AS diagnosis and is in mainstream school. Now 17 and doing Alevels after doing really well at GCSE. It hasn't always been plain sailing and there are still issues but these are more around behaviour and social skills.
We considered a specialist AS unit when he was 8/9 but rejected it as an option as they had very low expectations for the children.
We have had to fight really hard to get the right support and find ourselves teaching the teachers iykwim. Finally inYear 12 they've arranged for an autism specialist to work with him in school on a monthly basis.
How old is your ds?

DS is 15 and in an independent AS school. He would never have managed in a mainstream secondary. He did go to mainstream primary but he certainly didn't thrive there, they had a poor understanding of his needs and he was excluded several times (not unusual with AS). He doesn't get 1:1 support in his secondary school but class sizes are about six students with a teacher and TA.

His school has high academic expectations of the students and DS is on track to do well in his GCSEs, but more importantly they also devote a large amount of school hours to independence/social skills. Lots of students with AS can manage the academic work, do well at uni, but then really struggle later on with mental health issues as they have focused so much on academics but most schools don't really teach independence/social skills in the way that AS teens need. So that was the main priority for us.

I think it really depends on the individual child. I've got two with AS, aged 8 and 10 (soon). They have both thrived in mainstream school, but it's a school with a good SEN team including regular advice from an autism center, strong leadership, and high expectations for kids with SEN.

DS1 is being put in for the level 6 SATS exams next year, and DS2 is following suit being mostly at level 4 at the end of year 3. It's an inclusive school where the other kids are taught that different is OK, and there is a very strong anti-bullying message so the kids are generally happy and like going in. We have had rough times, I won't lie, but in general school has been a positive experience for my two.

letterfactory I'd be really interested to know which independence skills your DS was taught, maybe I should be trying to teach them to mine?

I have a daughter with AS, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia and an anxiety disorder. Looking for a secondary school for her in kingston or RIchmond. Can anyone advise me which schools have good SEN provision. Am really lost with the whole thing. Not sure if mainstream is right for her and she is currently school refusing.