Statement question leaving a special needs school for mainstream

[Tiredmummyneedswineandsleep]

DS aged 5 (year 1) has a statement and currently attends a specialist asd unit the other side of town , he travels by taxi as I don't drive and it's further than 2 miles away. His statement review is coming up and there is talk of him going back to Mainstream education.
I work at the nearest school to us and the school I work at and the next nearest one I'm terrified of sending him to. We live in a large council estate and although there re some lovely families there re also lots who aren't nice. I'm so scared of DS getting bullied at either of the schools especially as he gets older. He's very 'different' in a quirky aspergers sort of way. There is a school about a mile away that is much more suitable. I would feel far happier sending him there. He would still have a statement at first. Would they have to accept him if he has a statement even though it's oversubscribed? I feel sick over the thought of it all. I don't think he'll ever be 'streetwise' and will a prime target for bullies.

Many thanks and hope I haven't offended anyone. I live in a council flat myself and there are lovely people here but the school thing scares me so much.

Bump, would be really grateful if anyone could please help

Be prepared at the AR to state your case clearly. Focus on the ASD issues not the bullying as such. However you could say that given the given his very poor pragmatic/ semantic language skills that would make him socially vulnerable and to protect him he needs to be in a unit type environment. Then sit back and see what is said at the AR. Then come back. Dont worry about something that has not happened yet.

Thank you so much, just spoken with his teacher and they have to put it on the letters as standard as to whether the unit is still suitable. There are no plans to move him just yet so he will have another year there. I just wish I could keep him young forever. It can be a cruel world out there and I think he'd be eaten alive at local mainstream. I already panic over secondary school with buses etc.. He's always going to be "different" and not very streetwise.