The father of an 11-year-old boy with special educational needs says his son is “failing” after not starting secondary school two months into the school year.
Freddie Nickless was due to start at his new school in September, but his father Colin claims Southend City Council failed to provide him with a place that meets his stipulated Education and Care Plan (EHCP). are.
He has been diagnosed with autism, ADHD, and a movement disorder, and medical professionals have concluded that he requires 30 hours of one-on-one education each week.
But despite trying “desperately” to find a suitable mainstream school during the application process several months ago, Mr Nickless claims no school met his son’s special educational needs (SEN). .
A frustrated Nickless said: “It quickly became clear to every secondary school SEN co-ordinator we spoke to that Southend schools were no longer accepting one-to-one teaching in their schools, which has been the policy for several years. Children’s educational needs legally required to meet the child’s EHCP.
He claims that 30 hours of one-to-one tuition per child costs £9,000 and there is insufficient funding available to schools.
It added: ‘Like many other SEN children in Southend, Freddie is disenfranchised and sits outside the school system without the education that all children are legally entitled to. I realized that,” he added.
“We need to redress and understand that the impact of missing out on the educational milestone of 11-year-olds being able to form friend groups and feel safe in the education system like everyone else is having a huge impact. There is very little action being taken on the part of local authorities to do this. It is about caring for children with SEN, rather than discouraging them.”
Despite his experience, Southend Council insists it has systems in place to get children into suitable schools, including one-to-one support.
Councilor Rory Barton, responsible for children, young people and SEND, said: “There is no policy that prohibits or restricts the provision of direct one-to-one support to students through EHC plans. currently maintains a number of EHC plans with varying levels of designated one-to-one provision based on the individual needs of the child/young person as set out in the EHC plan.
“If a problem arises in providing such support, we expect schools to raise questions with us so that they can be resolved quickly. All provisions within the EHC plan are We have and will continue to incorporate different strategies and levels of support as needed.”
