Mother slams RBWM as son left out of school for three years

A Maidenhead mother has lambasted RBWM for failing to provide suitable education for her son with special needs.

Leanne Higgins’ son has autistic spectrum disorder and ADHD. He should be in year six at school – but has mainly missed out on schooling, leaving him at year one level.

He was able to attend reception for only about six months before the COVID  lockdown took him out of schooling for some time.

He was eventually enrolled at Furze Platt Junior School in 2022, but this didn’t work out.

“When my son started in year three, the school was rightfully very quick to say, ‘We can’t meet his needs – he needs a specialist school,’” Leanne said.

But despite much back and forth with RBWM, her son remains enrolled there, unable to attend, and still yet to be given a placement elsewhere.

In the meantime, he has been offered alternative provisions on a temporary basis. Leanne’s son went to The Link at Manor Green School for a full year and made ‘significant progress’ there.

“The Link was fantastic for him – he wanted to go. He built up a really good relationship with members of staff.

“But [at the end of his time, RBWM] went, ‘It’s temporary, so you have to go now,’ knowing full well he didn’t have a placement to go forwards to.”

Despite this, the council did not consider an extension at The Link, Leanne said – and there remains no place for him for this new school year.

Alternatives suggested by RBWM haven’t been appropriate, Leanne added, including placements as far away as central London and Bristol.

“I have other [school age] children – I can’t be driving to central London every day,” she said.

“[RBWM] can arrange transport, but my son can’t use a taxi service, and RBWM are aware of that.”

Options suggested by Leanne were vetoed, including an EOTAS package (Education Other Than At School).

Leanne suggested swimming lessons, drama lessons and a tutor – but RBWM told her it would not be in her son’s best interests, she said.

Meanwhile, RBWM suggested sending him to a provision centred around animals, which is ‘not right for him’, said Leanne.

“He’s a flight risk and the venue isn’t secure. Putting him put him around large, unpredictable animals makes no sense.

“You have to try these things, or the local authority are very quick to say, ‘Well, we’ve given you these options, and you haven’t done anything.’

“But if [the council] had read his EHCP, they would have known this venue should never have been put forward in the first place.”

An ECHP specifies the specific support the local authority is legally required to provide to meet the needs of the child.

Leanne says her son’s EHCP hasn’t been updated based on what was learned at The Link – and expressed frustration about RBWM’s level of attentiveness.

She said key staff from RBWM have not been attending meetings with her / The Link/ Furze Platt Juniors – indeed, she hasn’t seen them in a meeting for ‘well over 18 months,’ she said.

Leanne has also found RBWM difficult to contact, and her complaints have not been upheld.

“I shouldn’t have to chase them up as much as I have,” she said. “I don’t understand why my son is still waiting [for a placement] three years down the line.

“It’s not just him – there’s lots of children in this situation. They are missing out on the most important years of their life.

“Education is for everybody. Why is my son not included in this basic human right?”

A council spokesperson said: “Access to education is a priority for the Royal Borough.

“We ensure every child and young person with additional needs is supported through regular contact with a caseworker and has access to a suitable education.”