Update: my son was diagnosed with post viral fatigue and has been swing a specialist and a physio. His school have been useless and not offered any help or support. I had to fight to get them to refer him for home tuition. They haven't contacted us for months to see what's happening with him.
We had an appointment with the specialist this afternoon, my son said he didn't want to go back to school, and he actually cried which is the 1st time he has.

The specialist said she thinks that he has school refusal and has put a refferal into CAHMS. She told him that he should be going into school and that he has to try and go in for 1 lesson next week.

He's been off school for almost a year, how on earth can I get him back in just like that!

Not sure what to do for the best, I'm exhausted with it all!

Hi
Thanks for the update.
Did your son do the art therapy at Mind?
Try and encourage keeping in contact with friends, even on line.
Your son will need help with anxiety itself before dealing with school. Is there any chance you can home school and connect with any local home schooling groups?
I can't offer specific advice but I'd be seeing if you can find someone who deals with anxiety and cognitive behaviour therapy and also consider medication for anxiety to perhaps help ease your son forward. Keep encouraging him to interact with others and if he is housebound, try the drives and eventually a drive where he gets out and gets a drink at petrol station etc. It might sound simple vut when our kids get stuck in the house it is hard for them to re connect with the outside world, let alone school.
Try and keep up his self esteem by doing things with him inside or outside the home that doesn't mention school. School education is nt everything. Home schooling or on line schooling seems to be the answer for some kids despite the isolation. What the professionals want is our kids to go back to school and have a normal life but nine times out of ten it is not normal as they still miss school and feel isolated and as a resul their self esteem plummets.
It must be tough for you. If your son seems ok in himself, that is a good sign.
Let us know how things go.
Take care,
Linda