'My son is in crisis - we're not waiting two years'

A father whose 12-year-old son has special educational needs has said they simply do not have time to wait for his future to be resolved.

Kieron's son Michael, who is autistic and has ADHD, currently attends a mainstream school under the terms of his Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

Kieron, from the Burnley area, is now challenging the EHCP issued by Lancashire County Council, saying he and his family, as well as Michael's current school, agree he needs to go to a specialist school better able to meet his needs.

Lancashire County Council said: "We are in regular contact with this family and understand that this is a challenging situation, and will continue to support them."

Kieron explained that Michael was "inconsistent in quite a large number of lessons, there are constant disruptions to his classes as well.

"We've unanimously agreed as a family and as a school that he needs that extra support."

Kieron claimed Michael's EHCP had been put in place without correct procedures having been followed.

He added: "This has been going on since he was in year three or year four of primary school.

"Out of nowhere, [the council] send us an email to say that they've now issued a final EHCP for him, without actually consulting me and (his) mum about it and having our input."

Kieron said: "In his final year of mainstream primary school he was actually assessed by an education psychologist.

"At 11 years old... he had the mental age of a seven-year-old, so this sums up just how profound his needs are in that respect."

Usually an EHCP is granted by a local authority following an assessment process lasting 20 weeks.

Kieron said Michael's had been issued before the consultation deadline had closed.

He has now raised a formal complaint.

After contacting Lancashire County Council about his son's case, Kieron said he was advised to go through mediation, a process which he said "could take years to complete".

Kieron said this was unacceptable and that he was not willing to go to mediation because Michael was "in crisis now, he's struggling now; we're struggling now, we're not waiting two years.

"It was a plan that was unlawfully issued and, as far as we are concerned, should be void and we should return to the consultation phase on this and go back to the beginning."

A council spokesperson said: "Our priority remains ensuring that every child receives the right support, in the right setting, and we continue to work closely with families and schools to achieve this."

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