Our fight to get son into special school (From Gazette)

Our fight to get son into special school

7:50pm Monday 13th February 2012 in News By James Cox

Worried about schooling – Dominic and June Nicholls, with Tristan, 13

PARENTS of an autistic boy have accused Colchester Academy of putting his education at risk by delaying his move to a special school.

Dominic and June Nicholls want son, Tristan, 13, to attend Doucecroft School in Colchester, but he needs a statement of special educational needs before he can enrol.

Colchester Academy’s special educational needs co-ordinator – the only person who can file the report – has been off ill since December.

Tristan’s parents said no alternative provision had been put in place, stalling his chance of a move.

Headteacher Barry Hersom said an assessment would be held in a few weeks and Tristan’s parents would have to approach Essex County Council if they want to move him.

Mr and Mrs Nicholls, of Avon Way, Colchester, said it breaks the school policy of providing a report in six weeks. Mrs Nicholls, 38, added: “We can’t fault the staff we meet on a daily basis.

“The head of year has been fantastic.

“But it’s written in the school policy it should provide the report within six weeks, and we’ve passed that.

“We won’t be the only parents with this problem.”

Tristan was diagnosed with high-functioning autism by an NHS mental health group on December 6, after his head of year spotted signs.

He has struggled with various learning and behavioural difficulties since he was a baby.

He was enrolled in Montgomery and Kingswode Hoe Schools after his father, who was serving with the Army at the time, was relocated to the town from Germany in 2006.

Tristan chose to try attending a comprensive school for his secondary education, but it has subsequently proved difficult for him.

He was able to integrate on a part-time basis while still getting taught in smaller classes.

But his parents said problems began at Colchester Academy when an initial agreement he would be kept with a single form tutor for stability was broken in his second year.

Since then he has had various disciplinary problems, including a violent altercation with another pupil which led to the police getting involved.

Mr Nicholls, 39, said: “We want to move him before his GCSEs start, but we don’t know where to turn anymore. It’s his life skills we are concerned about.”

Mr Hersom said Tristan should have had a meeting in January, but it had to be put back as a member of staff was off sick.

He added: “It is delayed for only a few weeks. Someone else will hold it.

“This young man has been doing very well, and we are very happy with him.

“If his parents want to move him to a specialist school, that is a discussion they should have with the authority.

“The majority of pupils with autism at his level are in ordinary schools.”

Doucecroft School in Abbotts Lane, Colchester, is run by Autism Anglia, which specialises in teaching children with developmental disabilities.