A Plymouth mother says her 17-year-old autistic daughter is still waiting for suitable education, and has received no academic lessons since September despite being enrolled to study Level 2 Childcare, Maths and English.
Karen Tall says Charlotte desperately wants to continue learning and gain qualifications. But around six weeks into the academic year, her provision has consisted of introductory meetings, activities and supported sessions, rather than teaching towards those courses.
Charlotte previously attended Discovery College, where she completed Level 1 Childcare and Functional Skills English Level 1. During the summer, she began preparing for further education through GHQ Training and specialist support organisation Rise Education & Care Group, building relationships with trusted adults.
Karen says changes involving staffing, timetables, locations and funding have since left Charlotte without a consistent educational package she can safely access.
On 14 October, Charlotte became overwhelmed during an introductory meeting at GHQ Training, was unable to speak and ran away. Her mother found her and took her home.
The following day, Karen says Charlotte absconded from Rise, the specialist setting where she had developed trusted relationships. She fell down stairs, hit her head and may have injured her wrist before making her own way home.
Karen says staff at both settings have been kind and welcoming, and that her concerns are about the arrangements for Charlotte’s education, not individual staff.
Charlotte has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) setting out her needs and the support she requires. Karen says the family has spent months discussing those needs with the council and providers, but still has no clear, consistent package in place. She says the situation has also seriously affected Charlotte’s mental health and wellbeing.
Karen says the council confirmed on 12 October that funding proposals involving GHQ and Rise were being checked. The family is still waiting for a decision. She has submitted a formal complaint to Plymouth City Council and is seeking independent legal advice.
Karen said she welcomed SEND reform but believed the family’s experience showed the gap between announcements and the support children receive.
“Charlotte’s needs aren’t unknown. They’re documented in her EHCP, and we’ve spent months explaining them. She wants to learn, but we’re six weeks into the academic year and she hasn’t had a single academic lesson.
“Plymouth City Council is announcing SEND reforms while we’re still fighting for the education my daughter needs today. How many more meetings, emails and crises will it take?”
Plymouth City Council said
We would not be happy to discuss in public the details of any young person who is on an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
These plans are to help children and young people with special educational needs who need additional support either in a mainstream or specialist setting.
A young person’s journey, after leaving school, is usually to go onto college, or an apprenticeship, to gain support for independence, with the goal of fulfilling their aspirations, such as employment. In a few cases, where a traditional further education placement would not be suitable for their particular needs, alternative provision can be carefully considered.
We are in regular touch with the family and are working to find a solution as soon as possible.
Photographs © Wayne Perry / Plymouth Post