Experiences of moving from Specialist to Mainstream

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DS (7) has attended specialist provision from 3 years of age. He has a diagnosis of autism and learning difficulties. School now think that specialist school is no longer necessary for him and want him to start transitioning to mainstream. It will be a gradual build up starting with one day a week and a ta from his current school will support him.

We are keen to try this and see how he gets on. As if we don't try, we will never know and always wonder.

I would like to hear of other people's experiences, both the good and bad.

I was a teacher in special school who lead on this for about 3 years (20+ years ago).
Interestingly, the feedback was that we stretched it out too much - that actually just changing would have been better all round.
What we think would have worked really well (but never had the staff nor funding) was to have one of our (special school) staff go with the pupil full time, from the off. The TA to have gone to the school first and found out the geography / timetable etc., and then to have met the pupil at the door and be with them throughout the day for the first couple of days (obviously, with the experience to drop back and let them get to know other dc when appropriate and to facilitate support when that was needed). Several families said, with hindsight, it was difficult visiting one day a week, or even two, the said they were in a sort of 'transient' phase and felt they didn't really belong one place or the other.

I am not sure the transition arrangements are the important thing but rather to make sure the right support is in place before your ds gets to the new school. ds1 did a move from a primary PRU (EBD special school) and it lasted all of three weeks because he went in with no support other than a TA for a couple of days in the first week. With the benefit of hindsight we should have refused the placement until better support had been put in place and then he might just have survived. As it was he returned to the special school and has been in specialist provision all the way through secondary.

Thank you both for your responses.
He will initially have a ta from his current school supporting him at the new school while he settles in. They would also be passing on strategies etc to the ta's in the new school.
If all goes well I would like him to make the full move sooner rather than later.

DS made a transition to a mainstream school with ASD specialism in Y3 from a v small school. A few bumps in the first few weeks but he settled brilliantly and the teachers and kids were all fantastic with him.

He's now in Y5 and has made so much more progress in the mainstream school - including on social side, making friends etc.

He even deals really well now with the transition between year groups, school trips etc. And although still 'behind' academically has made loads of progress.

HTH

Great to see Autistic kids successgully integrated in MS and doing well...
Does he have a TA while settled in mainstresm?

How do you get your sutistic son gives you feedback about his daily activities?