5 year old son diagnosed with autism/Aspergers - next steps?

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My 5 year old son has just been diagnosed with high-functioning autism/Asperger syndrome. We are moving to the UK later this year and I'm wondering whether this diagnosis would be accepted in the UK if I get it translated (it's from the children's educational psychologist service in the country we currently live in) or will we need to start the process again in the UK to get a "Statement of Educational Need"?

If we need to start the process again, how do I approach this - do I ask the GP in the UK to start the process after we move?

Because we are transferring in the academic year I can't get a place in a state school so my son will go to a small private school with a class size of 20 and I'm hoping he will manage. He's fluent in 3 languages, quite bright, but has some social and behavioural difficulties and a number of obsessions. I haven't yet told the new school about the diagnosis because I am worried about prejudice against my son - he was expelled from his old school on the day I informed them of his diagnosis as they said that they cannot deal with "abnormal" children as it's not fair on the "normal" children in the class. This expulsion was against the law but I chose not to challenge it as my son was being badly bullied/teased by the "normal" children and the teachers were not doing anything about it so it felt like he would be better off with our babysitter for the last few weeks of term. He is certainly much happier and is building a Lego space station in the living room.

I have worked with lots of engineers, economists and scientists with autism during my career so I am familiar with some aspects of autism but my son's diagnosis and the prejudice/discrimination he has experienced already from his old school has been worrying. Apart from the National Autistic Society and Mumsnet, are there other sources of info and support in the UK that I should look at to educate myself so I can advocate for my son's best interests?

Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any advice.

Which country are you moving to? England, Wales, Scotland and NI all have different systems.

Because we are transferring in the academic year I can't get a place in a state school

^^This isn't correct. When you become resident in an LA the LA legally have to offer you a school place, it may not be the school you want but they have to offer you something. Independent schools aren't always supportive of pupils with SEN.

We're moving to England - I didn't realise there were different systems so thanks for the tip.

I'm hoping once we're settled that I can talk to the Local Authority again and also look at some specialist schools in the county in case my son can't manage in the Independent School or they can't meet his needs.

In England if DS's needs can not be met within the resources normally available within mainstream schools you can apply for an EHCP (it's no longer a Statement of SEN in England), which is a legal document that sets out a child's needs and what provision they need to meet those needs. You are unlikely to secure a special school place without an EHCP. The EHCP process takes 20 weeks if you don't have to appeal.

Be aware the majority of independent mainstream schools charge parents extra for SEN support.

IPSEA and SOSSEN are charities that can help with queries about SEN provision in schools. Their websites are useful and they both have advice lines.

English state schools are governed by statutory exclusion guidelines, so they can not legally exclude purely because a pupil has SEN. Unfortunately, independent mainstream schools don't have to follow the same rules, but they still have to follow the Equality Act.

The current diagnosis should be accepted, although it may depend on who diagnosed and how DS was assessed. If it is not accepted due to how DS was diagnosed you can ask the GP to refer for an assessment. In some areas it is CAMHS that deal with ASD and in others it is a neurodevelopmental community paediatrician.

Many thanks for this detailed information 10brokengreenbottles - it's super helpful!