July 16, 2021, Leicester Mercury: 'The system is failing him' mum fights for autistic son's future as he may have to attend mainstream school https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/the-system-failing-him-mum-5660787 Midlands
She has been told there is no space and he might have to go to a mainstream school instead
A mum is fighting for her son's future after he was told he may have to attend a mainstream secondary school.
Joseph Asher, 11, has severe autism and during his primary school years he has been getting extra funding for 1-1 learning.
His mum, Rachael, who is also his full-time carer, had been hoping to get him into the Birch Wood special school in their home town of Melton.
But Leicestershire County Council told her there was no space for Joseph at the school and that he could go to Long Field Academy instead.
She said: "He couldn't cope in a mainstream secondary school with his developmental difficulties and physical problems, too.
"He has a bone growth condition which means he's very short and he's had his bones pinned more than five times….
"I feel like the system is failing him."
She said the county council had not been helpful. "You call them and they put you through to another person and then another person. No one really listens.
"He's really not had it easy over the years and now he doesn't have a suitable secondary school place with the summer holidays already starting….
"He's very socially unaware and if he doesn't have transport to school he'll just end up wandering around the shops or something….
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