Boy takes school to court over Send teaching cuts

A teenage boy is taking a school to court over cuts to teaching hours for students with special educational needs and disabilities (Send).

The boy's parents received a letter at the end of last year saying that Lonsdale School in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, would be closing on Friday afternoons.

The decision was reversed earlier this month but the legal action is continuing because the boy's parents are worried lessons could still be cut in the future.

The school and Hertfordshire County Council have been contacted for comment.

Eddie, which is not his real name, is a full-time wheelchair user and is being assessed for autism.

His mother, Jennifer, believes he is "incredibly happy" at Lonsdale School and the staff are "fantastically committed and caring, and very passionate about doing the best that they can for the children".

But a new school policy announced in December cast a shadow over Eddie's education.

Jennifer – also not her real name – said: "We received a letter saying that, from January of this year, school would need to close at Friday lunchtime due to difficulties with recruiting and funding.

"We were told initially that it would be a temporary measure and then, in around May of this year, they announced that it was going to be made permanent."

Jennifer is convinced a cut of a half a day would have a real impact on Eddie's education.

"Essentially, we're removing one 10th of his education," she said.

"We're looking at him losing one year of education over 10 years in comparison with children who attend mainstream school."

The law requires mainstream schools to provide 190 teaching days each year, and each day has to include morning and afternoon sessions.

Although that law does not apply to special schools, Jennifer said: "All the children at my son's school are disabled within the meaning of the Equality Act and they are entitled to equity with non-disabled children."

The missing half-day has now been reinstated, but Jennifer said the legal action was continuing in a bid to make sure there were no further time reductions.

She also believes a court ruling would stop special schools across the county and beyond cutting teaching time as a response to funding difficulties.

The case is being heard at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Wednesday and Thursday.

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