I am an Irish mother of an autistic boy, aged 8. Before the recent cutbacks in the SEN sector, and the education sector in general (increasing class sizes especially), he was progressing socially and in regards to his education. Now that the cuts have been introduced, he is regressing. All his supports have been taken from him, and I can see this has disturbed him and taken him out of his comfort zone. I do not have enough finance to place him in to a special school, as the grants in this regard have been cut also. I am at my wit's end, and am considering moving to England in order to educate him!
Could you be so kind as to tell me the pros and cons, or even a short description of the special needs education system in Engaldn/the UK? I have read up about it, but I just want to hear from actual parents, not principals of the schools or literature.
Please help me, any advice (about the Irish SEN system, or indeed the English one) would be so so greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

I am an ex teacher and now a Mummy of a boy with SEN as he has Cerebal palsy.
In order for your son to access one to one support in an English school he would have to be assessed to get a Statement of Educational need. So with a diagnosis of Autism the school will atomatically do an Idividual Education Plan. Before a statement can be applied for they will need three of these, the school make the application and they will need a report from an educational psychologist. Then all the professionals involved with your son would put in a report (this is what they've done for my son).
Firstly, if your coming here some kind of transition would need to be thought about. All the info from Ireland transfered to England. That can be difficult enough to achieve with two schools in the same county so from Ireland to England, it could be interesting to say the least. Does he have an educational psychologist at the moment? Someone who could write a report of his needs at school? If an Ed psych were to recomend a special school, then that would help you. If thats whats best for him?
Without any transition he would come in and it would be at the very least two terms before anything was put in place, probably alot longer. If you know anyone in England or could come and look round and chat with a few schools / heads this would be helpful.
Special Schools in England are governement funded but the places are limited and getting in can be difficult.
All these things depend on the severity of your sons Autism and how much it affects his day to day life. I know of autistic children in both special and mainstream education in England doing well. It also depends on where in England you live. This is how it works for Plymouth Local Education Authority and its probably very similar most other places, but it does vary, and the number of special school places varys and the willingness to give out statements varys too.
Sorry to be so vague. But as a parent going through the statementing process and as a teacher who was fighting for one, I have found the process to be difficult and frustrating. Everyone is vague and secretive and no one is willing to give any definates.
Please ask any questions on what I've written, as I'm sure if I can't answer them then someone can. Hope this helps in some way x x
Maria.