Geraint was playing on the beach when he was found two hours later

Geraint Shattock was one of seven pupils from a Caerphilly special school taken to Barry Island on Tuesday.

When the party arrived back, teachers noticed the boy was not there. Police and coastguards started a search and he was found after 15 minutes.

The school said it was "shocked and concerned" and would review procedures.

The pupils, who had been taken to the seaside for an end-of-term treat, were supervised by teachers and helpers throughout.

But when the children were assembled for the 20-mile trip back to Trinity Fields school, the 12-year-old - who is severely autistic - was overlooked.

On behalf of the school, I have apologised to the pupil and his family for any distress that has been caused Head teacher Cliff Warwick

A coastguard spokesman said: "We were informed by the school that an autistic boy had been missing for nearly two hours.

"We scrambled our rescue teams and inshore lifeboat and alerted police and ambulance.

"Fortunately the boy was soon found by police officers."

The boy was found playing at a beach at Whitmore Bay, which is near steep cliffs.

'Urgently reviewing'

Geraint's mother, Ann Fowler, said the incident was "out-of-character" for the school.

She said: "I was very concerned because we were on a beach recently and he walked off in the sea.

"I really don't know how long he was missing. I'm waiting to have a meeting with the headmaster.

School head teacher Cliff Warwick said: "We can confirm that an incident occurred when a pupil was left during a school trip.

"We are shocked and concerned to hear about this incident and are carrying out a full investigation to find out how it occurred.

"On behalf of the school, I have apologised to the pupil and his family for any distress that has been caused.

"We will be urgently reviewing our procedures to ensure this does not happen again."

A Caerphilly council education spokesman said: "Mistakes were made and we have made a full apology to the boy's family.