Lucy Sullivan has been kept from school by her parents

Lucy Sullivan was withdrawn from Whitemill special school in Carmarthen three weeks ago.

Her parents have said they will try to provide for her at home.

Carmarthenshire Local Education Authority said it had tried to work with the family and that keeping Lucy from school was not to her advantage.

'Very stressful'

The dispute centres on how the special needs listed on Lucy's statement - a document outlining what provision she should receive - are met.

According to Lucy's father, Steven Sullivan, his daughter should receive weekly speech therapy and hydrotherapy and should have been provided with a computerised device to help her communicate.

Steven Sullivan claims Lucy's needs are not being met

Mr Sullivan claims that Carmarthenshire NHS Trust failed to provide the speech therapy and hydrotherapy, while the special communication device was not provided by the LEA.

Mr Sullivan said: "It's got so frustrating that I've taken her out of school because I've got to get something done.

"It's been very stressful. We didn't just turn round and say 'I'm taking Lucy out of school'.

"We spoke about it as a family and said it's the only way forward.

"On the statement it says Lucy's to receive hydrotherapy on a weekly basis, speech therapy on a weekly basis and she's supposed to have a communication aid.

"At the present time she's receiving none of this.

'Issues of concern'

"It wouldn't be in her statement if she didn't need it.

"I think she's better off at home at the moment - I'll keep her here until everything's in place on the school."

Carmarthenshire LEA said it had tried for some time to work with the Sullivan family on updating Lucy's statement.

The LEA said: "We have sought for some time to work with the family on updating the statement of special educational need which we have inherited from another authority, but have so far failed to agree on its content.

"There would seem to be three specific issues which are of concern.

"They include two which are not within the remit of the education authority to resolve since they are included in the non-educational area of the statement of special need.

"The third issue revolves around the suitability of a piece of equipment and the current position is that we have acted on expert advice, although we recognise that this is not in keeping with the father's view.

"Nevertheless we cannot see how keeping the pupil away from school is to anyone's advantage at this stage.

"We are anxious that a speedy solution can be found which will ensure that this young lady can return to school."

Carmarthenshire NHS Trust added in a statement: "The trust is in discussion with the local education authority with a view to finalising this matter."