Mum’s fight for son’s education after expulsion from Rubery school

Last October, Zac was excluded from Holly Hill Church School due to behavioural issues.

He is suspected to have special educational needs and is currently being assessed for autism.

Since his expulsion, he has not stepped foot into a school.

His mum, Laura Jordan, said she is worried about Zac’s development and is entitled to full-time education.

The family now live in Redditch, after moving from Birmingham last March.

Zac.

His mum, Laura Jordan, said she is worried about Zac’s development and is entitled to full-time education.

She said: “Zac turned five in February, so the council is obliged to find Zac an education provision for the next school term after Easter.

“Worcestershire County Council has offered an education package for Zac for three hours a week where an allocated specialised teacher from Chadsgrove Teaching Alliance will come into our home.

“He will then be offered three mornings a week so nine hours a week for six weeks in a school environment.

“He is entitled to a full-time education so what do I do? Do accept the package and go with the process or do I say no that’s not enough?

“This should have been done a few months ago.”

Laura and Zac.

Laura, aged 36, said she does not blame Worcestershire County Council as they have “done everything they can with their resource” to help her.

She said the problem is much bigger than the county council as she knows she isn’t the only parent in the UK experiencing the same issues.

“There are holes in the system. I don’t blame anyone it is the whole system that needs to change,” said Laura.

“It is difficult to get an education health and care plan which you need to get into a special needs school.

“Zac has a plan, and we are progressing with an autism diagnosis.

“We have had genetic testing which found Zac has an auto-deletion of one of his chromosomes, he was also born with an infection and suffered a head injury when he was a toddler.

“His behaviour could be down to several things.

“It is getting to the bottom of a diagnosis that is holding us back.”

Zac has not mixed with any school children since last October, which has affected his social skills.

He has been offered occupational therapy and play therapy, but Laura said this “isn’t enough”.

Zac.

Laura added: “My child goes everywhere with me, and every day Zac says to me “can we stay at home all day”.

“He would rather stay at home where he doesn’t mix with others because he is not used to being with other children anymore.

“We have tried playgroups but they aren’t catered to Zac’s age and are for children younger than school age.

“Zac has already missed nearly a whole school year of education and it’s going to keep getting longer.”

The single mum of four said she can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel but the next few months receiving a diagnosis for Zac’s behaviour will be a “slow process”.

UPDATE - At the time of publishing, Zac was being assessed for autism. On April 7, Zac was formally diagnosed with autism.