UK Times: Autistic boy has no school place; "demand outpaces funding"

May 3, 2024, UK Times: Autistic boy left without school place as demand outpaces funding

Head teachers report they are having to cut corners as councils struggle with the lack of government funding for children with special educational needs

A family has no school place for their child with autism as research shows that schools are starved of money for special needs pupils.

Oscar Steele, who will turn five in ­July, has no named primary school for this September because all the special schools near by are full. The council is hoping that one school will be able to build an extension but the family ­believe this is unlikely to happen by the start of the school year.

He will be too old to remain in ­nursery, where he is now settled. Oscar is non-verbal, has delayed learning and no sense of danger, is not toilet trained and requires help with eating, so he cannot be placed at a mainstream school.