Oct 30, 2024, Southend Echo: Boy with special educational needs without Southend school place two months into term
THE father of an 11-year-old boy with special educational needs says his son has been "failed" as he remains without a secondary school place two months after term started.
Freddy Nickless should have started at a new school in September but dad Colin claims Southend Council has failed to provide him with a place that will meet the Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP) prescribed for him.
He has been diagnosed with autism, ADHD and dyspraxia and health professionals have concluded that he needs 30 hours of one-to-one education each week.
However, despite "desperately" trying to find a suitable mainstream school during the application process months earlier, Mr Nickless claims none could meet his son's Special Educational Needs (SEN).
Frustrated Mr Nickless said: "It soon become apparent to us that every secondary school SEN co-ordinator we spoke to said they do not accommodate dedicated one-to-ones within their school which has been the policy in Southend schools for some years, even if stated in the child's EHCP, which is legally required to meet that child's education needs.”
He claims that at a cost of £9,000 [$12,000] for 30 hours one-to-one tuition per child, there is insufficient funding available to schools.
He added: “Freddy like many other SEN children in Southend find themselves disenfranchised and sat outside the school system unable to access an education all children are legally entitled to.". . .
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