A foster carer has told how a teenager she was looking after was missing vital education because he could not get a place in a Clacton school.

Nathan Tinkler, 14, is coming up to his GCSEs but has not been in the classroom since moving to Jaywick in May.

And Cherie Clark, of Rosemary Way, who has taken the teenager in, has become so desperate that she has even written to Prime Minister Tony Blair over the situation.

"We just seem to be hitting our heads against a brick wall and going round and round in circles," she said.

"Nathan needs help in some subjects and wants to go to school but we cannot find a place. At the moment a woman who lives nearby and speaks German is giving him some lessons and an elderly man who does some oil painting is helping with art but that's all."

So far he has missed six weeks schooling and she is concerned he is getting further and further behind.

"If it was me keeping him off school or him playing truant the authorities would be taking me to court," she added.

"We are trying our best to give Nathan a stable background so that he can get on in life but we are are being held back."

Mike Singleton, Essex County Council's planning and admissions advisor for Tendring, said he was aware of Nathan's situation and efforts were being made to try to find him a place in a Clacton school.

"It is regrettable it has taken this time but it is a complex situation and we are doing what we can," he said.

"We have had confirmation that Colbayns High School is full in that year group but Clacton County High School should be contacting Mrs Clark to set up a meeting soon."

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