Aug 4, 2024, Chronicle Live: Autistic teen without school place as family struggle to find site in County Durham to meet his needs
NE England
With just weeks before the start of the new school term, Ashton Atkinson is yet to be offered a place at a school or college which the family believe could meet his needs
A mum said she fears she will have to homes
chool her son again due to a shortage of school places which meet his additional needs.
Ashton Atkinson is due to begin his post 16 education in September. But with just weeks before the start of the new school term, he is yet to be offered a place at a school or college which the family believe could meet his needs.
The 16-year-old, from Gilesgate, Durham, is autistic and has also been diagnosed with ADHD, epilepsy and a form of Tourette's syndrome. . . .
The 45-year-old added: "It's not fair. He should be at a school or college until he's 18 or 19 because he needs that stability. The more time he's off he's not going to be learning anything."
Kathryn said that when Ashton left Croft Community School four weeks ago he was assigned a place at East Durham College. But she feels the college would be unsuitable for her son and has raised this with Durham County Council.
She said: "Ashton can get out onto a main road because he has no safety awareness. He's a very loving little boy but he's got no safety awareness and he doesn't even look the age that he is."
"We had a look at a place at Bishop Auckland and he couldn't wait until he went there. But when we went back to County Hall [the council] and we were told that they couldn't meet his needs there but trying to find out anything about why is impossible."
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