'My son was expelled from school age 5 - I couldn't believe the reason why'

10 July 2023 , 21:04

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Bodhi Draper’s parents got a letter to say he had been permanently expelled because his behaviour “places him at risk of serious harm” (Image: Carl Draper / SWNS)

An autistic five-year-old was “discriminated against” when he was expelled from school, his dad claims. Bodhi Draper’s parents got a letter to say he had been permanently expelled because his behaviour “places him at risk of serious harm”, four days after he climbed a 5ft fence in May this year.

Bodhi was diagnosed with autism aged two and was nonverbal until December 2022. Before climbing the fence, Bodhi ran over a teacher’s foot with a wheelchair causing “serious injury”, his dad says.

In another incident, in which Bodhi allegedly ran into a teacher injuring his groin, the school thought it necessary to summon dad, Carl, and his partner, Charlotte, into the Head’s office.

And since the letter, Bodhi has been out of lessons. His parents are desperately trying to find him a new educational home, but with no luck.

Bodhi was diagnosed with autism aged two (Carl Draper / SWNS)

Carl, 48, a photographer from Dorset who has stopped working in order to home-school his son, said: "The impact on our well-being is devastating - we’re lost.

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"We have been dumped at the roadside and we are now finding out how common this is for people. We are completely in the dark. I have Bodhi all day every day.

"Charlotte works full time and she is now having to work extra time to pay for my bills. Our son has a mark on his record for being excluded. We want him cleared and in school."

After starting at Montacute School, Dorset, in September 2020, Bodhi’s first two years went well - Carl said Bodhi loved his classes and his teachers. But then things took a downwards turn.

Bodhi was non verbal until December 2022 (Carl Draper / SWNS)

In a meeting with the head teacher for Bodhi’s annual review, Carl and Charlotte claim the school said they had “gone as far as we can go with Bodhi”. It was after this meeting that the wheelchair and groin injury incidents happened, with the school calling in the parents both times.

Carl said that at this point, they “knew” they were being lied to by the school - Carl used to work in an ambulance and Charlotte was once an A&E nurse.

"A case was now being built against Bodhi, the school was not helping him and there was no person-centred care approach,” Carl said.

One day in May this year, Bodhi climbed the school fence and he was sent home. Carl claims he was expelled permanently four days later.

Carl said: "We received a letter from the school saying how they have decided to permanently exclude Bodhi. We challenged the school and asked where his support staff were.

"Bodhi has been discriminated. He has been left behind and the impact on his development is catastrophic. The impact on our lives as parents is incalculable. We now have Bodhi at home 24/7 and it is his right to an education and right to not be discriminated."

Bodhi's parents are now trying to find him a new school (Carl Draper / SWNS)

Carl was also critical of the local authority, who he claims had been “slow” to help in the two months since Bodhi’s expulsion. Carl and Charlotte have hired a solicitor to fight for Bodhi, and set up a GoFundMe to raise money for legal fees.

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A spokesperson for Montecute School said permanent expulsions are “incredibly rare”, in cases where children “struggle at our school despite significant work and support”.

They said: “In making any decision like this, we have to consider not only the safety and wellbeing of the child who is being excluded, but also the impact that they have on the much broader school community. It is a decision that we would only make as a last resort when all other avenues have been exhausted.

“In relation to this specific case, the police are currently investigating issues in relation to comments made on social media and we have been advised not to comment further whilst this is ongoing.”

“Our school is a vibrant learning community supporting nearly 100 children with complex learning difficulties and disabilities.”

A Dorset Council spokesperson said: “We are working with BCP Council and with the family to look for an alternative, suitable placement for Bodhi, in settings across both council areas.

"Every child has the right to the best possible education to meet their needs, and we will continue to work with the family and other relevant agencies to support Bodhi going forward."

Alex Croft