A family from the Isle of Wight has spoken out in desperation as no suitable secondary school place has been found for their son.
4 schools have so far said they would not be able to cope with the needs of the 10-year-old, who has ADHD and autism and will be moving up in September to Year 7.
The Isle of Wight Council said it is continuing to work closely with the family to seek a resolution but it would not be appropriate to comment further on an individual case. An ‘error’ in a verbal conversation at his current primary school, his parents say, led to confusion over what level he was performing at.
According to paperwork, he is performing at a Year 1 level but officials were told he was at a Year 3 level, leaving schools — including the family’s number 1 choice, specialist St George’s in Newport — saying they would not be able to meet his needs.
The family is now waiting for a date for a tribunal hearing but fear it could be too late and their son would be ‘forced’ to take a mainstream place at The Bay C of E School, but not in the specialist unit.
His needs are such that his parents feel a mainstream school would not be able to help him and they have concerns about his safety.
They say the situation has been causing their son further anxiety, and he is getting upset, as he does not know where he will be going to school in September, unlike his fellow pupils. The tribunal hearing is the next stage.
SEN provision on the island is shockingly poor and underfunded. A thanks to the decimation of the education system by the Tory party. I’m sure Bob will pop up claiming some rubbish about how he’s going to secure some funding that, let’s face it, will never appear.
So if St George’s unable to meet his needs this poor lad certainly won’t get support in mainstream and mainstream can’t manage many children at the moment. If he has an EHCP then IOW council have to secure an appropriate school placement for him.
If the family this concerns see this pm me on FB if you want further info that likely won’t help but may (I’ve a son in a different but related situation)
They should send him to a private school like I do. You know it’s best!
Sending a Y7 child who performs at Y1 level into mainstream secondary school is a disaster for all concerned.