Fears for my son's safety in mainstream school keep me awake at night

6 hours ago

Henry Godfrey-Evansand

Laura Foster,Essex

News image — Freddie is autistic, non-verbal, will eat non-food objects and could run away if not monitored by an adult

John Fairhall/BBC Freddie is sitting at a wooden table and looking at the camera. He has light brown hair and blue eyes. — Freddie is autistic, non-verbal, will eat non-food objects and could run away if not monitored by an adult

Freddie has no sense of danger and eats non-edible objects. He bangs his head and climbs. His mum, Natalie, says she needs eyes in the back of her head.

But there is no place at special school for him so the four-year-old from Essex will start in mainstream education in September.

Natalie says the thought of this is "keeping her awake at night" but the family must wait until 2028 to appeal against the decision.

Freddie is autistic, non-verbal and has an eating disorder called pica, which means he will eat non-food objects. He could also run away if not monitored by an adult.

"Not knowing what the [school] day holds for him, it's just really frightening," says Natalie, who lives near Southend.

"It's something that I can't even bear to think about, and it literally keeps me awake at night because it is just so terrifying."

Freddie's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) – a legally binding document that includes all details of the support a child will need during their education – took 40 weeks to complete. They must usually be completed in 20.

Natalie says while it did not specify that he needed a place at special school, the council had confirmed to her in an email that this would be best for him.

John Fairhall/BBC Freddie focused on playing with toys at the table, one is a Spider-Man figure — Freddie's condition means he eats non-edible objects

Natalie, a 36-year-old ex-teacher, has had to change her job because of Freddie's constant need for one-to-one care.

"If any door is open, any way of escaping, he will just run and he will eat stones regularly," she said.

"I'm having to get things out of his mouth that are not food. He climbs, he's a climber, so that can be very dangerous as well.

"When he gets upset, he headbangs, so he bangs his head off walls or the floor. So, I've had to completely change the way that I live day to day.

"I have to have eyes in the back of my head, basically, with Freddie and he's got no sense of danger; that comes from his autism. He's got no kind of reliable way of communicating because he's non-verbal.

"It's really just a desperate situation. I just feel a huge sense of frustration, sadness."

She has been told the earliest date a tribunal reviewing the decision can be held is January 2028.

Submitted Natalie, who has dark, centre-parted hair and glasses on top of her head, is wearing a white and yellow patterned top. She is holding Freddie, who has fair hair brushed forward. He is wearing a grey T-shirt with writing across the front. Both are looking at the camera and smiling. — Natalie says Freddie's condition could worsen if his needs are not met

Natalie says Freddie communicates with adults by taking them by the hand and leading them.

They are working on communication through devices like tablets.

She says his classroom will need a higher ratio of adults to children than mainstream schools can offer.

"He would need special therapies like speech therapy, occupational therapy – all of those things are not readily available in a mainstream school," Natalie says.

"It's all of the specialist training that the staff will have received."

She explains that "new behaviours can appear" and his issues could worsen if his needs are not met.

"[I've] seen this in the classroom time and time again," she says.

"He already has enough of a struggle day to day, I don't want to add to that. And I don't want it to be added to by this sort of situation we've been forced into."

John Fairhall/BBC Freddie being embraced by his sister while she turns to smile to the camera. There is a Wendy house and a slide in the background. — Freddie's has a sister Ava, who is eight

Essex County Council said: "While we are unable to discuss individual cases, we are committed to working with schools and families so suitable placements can be secured for children.

"The pressures on the SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) system are recognised as a national challenge and improving our local SEND system remains our priority.

"To this end, we are working to offer different opportunities for families without compromising on quality."