A mother shares her struggles as her son, Oliver, faces trauma after missing school. The lengthy taxi rides to his new school add to their challenges and expenses.
Trafford: A mother is heartbroken over her son’s struggles. Oliver, just 10, has been through a lot. He missed seven months of school, which left him feeling traumatized.
After September 2023, he couldn’t attend his mainstream school anymore. They found a tutor quickly, but the council took ages to sort out his case. Emily, his mom, had to take sick leave from her NHS job to care for him.
She said, “It’s been over a year since he left school, and he’s still not okay.” Now, he’s attending a new school, but it’s not easy. The taxi rides take an hour each way, and it’s costly.
Emily feels frustrated. She never expected to face so many obstacles. “I know other families in Trafford are going through the same thing,” she added.
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman called the delays “avoidable.” Emily received £4,350 in compensation and an apology from the council for the distress caused.
She expressed her loss of trust in the system. “Councils across the UK are not following the rules for kids with special needs,” she said.
When the council finally acted, they only looked at funding for the tutor. They delayed considering the school placement, which was available right away. It took until April 2024 for Oliver to start at a special school.
The Ombudsman noted that while some delays are due to a shortage of educational psychologists, this case could have been handled better. “The child should have missed only two weeks of school,” she explained.
She welcomed the council’s commitment to improve their processes. A Trafford council spokesperson said they are dedicated to supporting children with special needs and are following the Ombudsman’s recommendations.
