'I fear my son will never be given a school place'

The mother of a boy who has been out of mainstream education for nine months said she fears he may never be offered a suitable school place.

Victoria Dean's nine-year-old son Alex has a diagnosis of autism, ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder - a behavioural condition which means his default position is to refuse anything, even the offer of something nice like an ice-cream.

He attended a school in the Eden area of Cumbria, where the family live, but struggled to cope. Mrs Dean's request to move him to a special school was turned down by Westmorland and Furness Council.

The authority said it did not comment on individual cases, but that parents had a right to appeal through a tribunal.

"I'm terrified he won't get a school place, that's my ultimate fear," said Mrs Dean.

"He's going to have challenges as it is and he's already missed nearly two and a half terms of education."

Alex has an education, health and care plan (EHC), meaning his needs are assessed regularly.

At the last review, Mrs Dean told the council Alex was not coping in school and his attendance was low, but he was assessed as suitable for a mainstream setting.

She added: "He's really tried, but he's been crying and sitting down on the pavement.

"He's been biting himself and hiding his clothes and his shoes so he didn't have to go."

Mrs Dean said Eden was a special educational needs (Send) "desert", with few special schools available.

A report last month by Westmorland and Furness Council found a need for as many as 264 extra Send places in the area to reduce the reliance on private and independent special schools.

The authority told the BBC it was "seeking to expand specialist provision".

Alex had been offered a place at the fee-paying Cambrian Whinfell specialist autism school in Kendal, but with the council turning down the request to move him Mrs Dean said she felt "in limbo" while she waited for the outcome of her appeal.

"I don't know how long the appeal will take, but I've heard about a year," she said.

"It's a tough one, I realise there isn't an easy answer, but equally I've got a nine-year-old and there's not a lot else I can find for a child with his needs.

"I'm in a hard place."

In the meantime she is home schooling Alex without support, but she wants him to return to school.

"I think the world of Alex, I love being with my son, but I think for him it's hard because he misses the routine and he misses other company.

"Because of my disabilities - I'm in a wheelchair - there's not a lot of physical activity I can engage in.

"He needs a lot of walking, running, cycling, and unfortunately I can't do that."

Westmorland and Furness Council said it had "robust and proper channels" for people to raise concerns and encouraged anyone unhappy with the support they received to contact them.

A spokesman added: "We are keen to improve experiences and outcomes for all of our children with identified Send and are currently seeking to expand specialist provision."

Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.