Angry mum says daughter, 11, still without school place despite weeks into term

25 September 2023 , 10:45

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Mum and daughter, Janice and Sophie Swandle

A furious mum says her 11-year-old autistic daughter is yet to start school this term with the council having failed to allocate her a suitable place.

Sophie Swandle is one of 38 Year 7 pupils still without a place in Stoke-on-Trent for the current academic year which began earlier this month. She was given a place at Haywood Academy in Burslem but then relocated homes with mum Janice Swandle from Smallthorne to Meir over the summer. The city council were informed in April a new school place would be needed, Janice claims.

The frustrated mum needs Sophie to be within walking distance to a school as due to her autism struggles with public transport. She would need to get two buses to Haywood, as Janice works full time and doesn't drive.

The 42-year-old told StokeonTrentLive: "I gave the council six months' notice. It's so frustrating. She should be mixing with the other children but instead she's sat at home on her laptop. She's going to be falling behind on subjects and she finds it hard to make friendship groups as it is. I haven't even bought her school uniform yet because I don't know which school she'll be going to.

"I don't mind which school, just one where she can walk there and back herself. She wouldn't have been able to take the place at Haywood Academy. It would take her two buses and she wouldn't manage it on her own. Because of her autism, she's not as developed as a normal 11-year-old. She's not as streetwise."

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She added: "If I took my daughter out of school, I'd be fined. I'd be penalised for that. School admissions are saying there's nothing they can do. When I found out there were so many other kids waiting, that's what angered me the most. I think it's disgusting that kids are missing out. They should be getting an education that every child is entitled to."

The council has not commented on Sophie's case. However it has addressed the wider issue. A council spokesman said: "We had a number of young people apply for places outside the normal window and we currently have 38 pupils who we are in the process of being allocated year seven secondary school places. The majority of these cases are new to the area and the remainder are late or recent applications. The city council is proactively working with local schools to best match these pupils as soon as they can."

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Rachel Alexander