A boy with special needs ended up being kept back a school year (Image: Getty)
He felt as if ‘nobody wanted him’
Council failures left a boy feeling like ‘nobody wanted him’ after he was forced to stay at primary school a year longer.
The Swadlincote youngster said he felt ‘forgotten’ after he was left behind in school without his friends.
The boy and his mum, whose identities are being protected, have now received £1,000 and a formal apology from Derbyshire County Council in a bid to offset the “distress” and “frustration” the authority’s failings caused.
This follows an investigation from the Local Government and Social Care ombudsman – a council watchdog – into a complaint against the council.
The complaint was brought by Jane Smith – not her real name – in relation to her son Michael – also not his real name – who live in Swadlincote.
Due to Michael’s special educational needs, he requires an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC). This is a legally-binding document agreed between the council, school, parents and the child which lays out all of the specific support the child is entitled to and how it will be provided.
The county council is responsible for more than 3,000 of these for children across Derbyshire.