A mum is fighting for better support for special needs children in mainstream schools after she alleges her son’s school said her five-year-old could attend for just two hours per day.
Harrie Kaye, from Cambridge, claims she was “forced” to sign a contract agreeing to a reduced timetable at Caldecote Primary School. She feared the school would exclude her son, Rex if she did not sign.
Harrie Kaye with son Rex. Kaye says special needs children face discrimination in mainstream schools
She says Rex, who is undergoing a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), has since left Caldecote.
Kaye says her son is making excellent progress at his new school in Cambridge, Bourn Primary.
More than 41,000 supporters
The 31-year-old mum has started a petition on change.org. It calls for children with special needs to get more support following her battle with Caldecote. Her petition has more than 41,000 supporters.
She says even though Rex has left Caldecote, she is determined to continue her fight for the many other special needs children who get excluded.
‘Outraged’
In a message, she told how she had spoken to parents up and down the country and was “saddened, but also outraged at what goes on”.
The latest statistics show children with special needs are around four times more likely to face suspension. And they are between two-and-a-half and five times more likely to face permanent exclusion.
Staff ‘must commit to adapting’
Kaye says schools need adequate resources for inclusive education, but staff must also commit to adapting.
She has also alleged that Caldecote has a history of excluding special needs children.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department for Education said it is prioritising earlier intervention for special needs children.
The spokesperson added that the “high needs budget” is increasing by £440m next year, to £10.5 bn.
Special needs children ‘not treated poorly’
Karen Stanton and Becky Snelling, Caldecote’s joint headteachers, told Cambridgeshire Live that the school does not treat special needs children poorly.
They pointed to an Ofsted inspection in October 2022 that said special needs children were making steady progress.
Harrie Kaye’s petition is here.
Related:
- Government gets tough on exclusions
- Exclusion forces parents to give up job
- ‘Repugnant’ school exclusions banned
- Legal fight over exclusion for behaviour
- Schools ‘unable’ to stop exclusions
- MPs back call to cut school exclusions
- School behaviour policies may break law
Published: 23 August 2023
