My son is being kept ‘prisoner’ by his school – it doesn’t meet his needs… I’m furious
A FURIOUS mum has claimed her son is being kept “prisoner” in a school that does not meet his complex needs.
Katie Hattersley from Birmingham is locked in a bitter row with the council over her son’s education claiming that he currently gets no more than a “babysitting service”.
The 17-year-old attends Hazel Oak in Solihull, which is a special school catering for children with moderate learning difficulties, some of whom are on the autistic spectrum.
The school was rated outstanding in its most recent Ofsted report and Solihull Council has defended the school saying that it had “provided essential specialist support for many years.”
Katie claims that Joe, who has speech and language difficulties, currently gets little more than a “babysitting service” at the provider’s sixth form.
Speaking to BirminghamLive she told how a shake-up of its sixth form provision in September 2019 had resulted in Joe attending classes at a nearby Solihull College.
The concerned mum described it as a “horrendous situation” and said he had been moved from the “safe environment of the special school site to three rented classrooms in a huge mainstream further education college”.
She added: “On some days students spend all day in their classrooms because they are too scared to go to the canteen.
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“It’s an intimidating environment mixing with mainstream students.
“Our son is vulnerable and it’s not a safe environment for him to be in.
“The local authority has not followed up at all since the sixth form moved.
“The students are neither part of their school nor part of the college.”
Katie claims that parents were “promised the move would enable students to access areas of the college to enhance their experiences”.
But that “in reality, all the children are permitted to access is the canteen, gym and library”.
The determined mum previously took local authority chiefs to a tribunal but it did not rule in her favour.
She hopes that by speaking out it will “encourage” other parents to speak up and result in some change.
At the tribunal, Katie appealed for speech and language therapy to be legally included in her son’s education, health and care plan [EHCP] and to try and get a better college placement for him.
No child should have to shred paper for work experience and feed ducks at the age 16
It was ruled that Joe needs weekly speech and language therapy but that he had to stay at Hazel Oak.
Katie said: “I know the local authority think I’ve got an axe to grind because Joe was made to stay at Hazel Oak but that isn’t the case.
“What I want to expose is the dire college provision that Solihull offers SEND children.
“No child should have to shred paper for work experience and feed ducks at the age 16.
“A postcode lottery should not curtail young people’s life opportunities.”
A Solihull Council spokesperson said: “Whilst we are unable to comment on individual cases, our priority is always to ensure all children and young people receive appropriate education.
“In all cases where a tribunal has taken place, we are bound by the judgement.
“Hazel Oak Sixth Form has provided essential specialist support for many years.
“They are an Ofsted-rated Outstanding school, enabling the children who attend to achieve qualifications and learn skills that will help them for the rest of their lives.
“The school’s links with local colleges and businesses provide a range of learning opportunities that help young people as they prepare to move on at the end of year 13.”