Moving to uk with SEN child

[cheesymarmite]

Hi all.
We currently live abroad but are considering a possible move back to uk Newcastle area.
One of my children has non verbal autism and very severe learning difficulties. He needs help with all tasks and must be closely watched at all times. He's 9.
I am guessing that getting him into an appropriate setting would be rather complicated and involve lots of assessments etc? Where would I start and what would it involve?
I am currently very happy with the school he goes to. He is in a small group of 4 kids with 2 teachers and gets lots of one to one time every week with various therapists (speech, ot, music, physical therapist, psychologist, equine therapy, swimming). I wonder if he would get this in a UK setting? I really have no idea.
Any insight very welcome! Thank you.

Once you are resident in England you can

a) apply for a school. The LA have to offer a place. Without an EHCP it is likely to be a mainstream school to begin with. However, sometimes LAs agree to place a pupil in a special school whilst undergoing assessments. If DS is initially placed in a mainstream school they can apply for high needs top up funding if they need more money to meet his needs.

b) apply for an EHCNA, the needs assessment prior to deciding whether an EHCP is needed. An EHCP is a legal document that sets out a child's needs and what provision they need to meet their needs. This can include all the things you mention. In order to get such things included in the EHCP you will need evidence. For example an OT assessment if OT provision is to be included.

The EHCNA should include some assessments and you can request others that aren't mandatory such as SALT, OT etc.

Do you have reports from where you currently live? Collect as much evidence as you can prior to moving.

The majority of special schools have bigger classes than 4. Many run with between 5-8 pupils, although some have more or less. The number of adults will vary depending on the pupils' needs. If 1:1 is necessary, although it isn't always in a special school, that can be written in to the EHCP.

If DS is 10 prior to 1st September you will need to apply for a secondary school place by 31st October. Even if you are midway through applying for an EHCP unless you have a finalised EHCP you should apply for a place via the normal admissions round as a back up.

Thanks very much for taking the time to reply. All very useful info for me.
There is no way he could go in a mainstream so I'd just have to keep him at gone until he got a place in an appropriate setting.
I think my first move before we make a decision needs to be to visit the special schools in the area and decide if any of them could meet his needs.

The EHCP process takes 20 weeks, and that's if you don't have to appeal. Don't wait to apply for an EHCNA until after you have visited schools, get the ball rolling as soon as you move. Some schools aren't allowing visitors at the moment.

Push the LA to admit DS to a special school whilst undergoing assessment. If they won't, push for alternative provision until the EHCP is finalised. By electing to keep him at home the LA will say you are making suitable provision and they are relieved of their duties. It is all too easy to forget about DS if you are electively home education. Whereas if you push them to provide education they can't forget.

An EHCP allows you to name schools out of area and non-maintained or independent schools, too.

Ok thanks so much for the advice.

It all seems rather daunting!