A Montrose couple who might have to send their two children to different primary schools have accused Angus Council of showing a lack of consideration for their son’s disability.
Riley Murray (5) has cerebral palsy and attends the nursery at Lochside Primary.
Although the family live outside the catchment area, he has no option but to attend this school as Lochside is the only one in town adapted for wheelchairs. The school’s special needs support base is also a great benefit.
Riley is due to begin primary one at the school in August and his four-year-old sister Layla, who attends Lochside playgroup, had been due to begin at the nursery.
However, the family have been told places have been filled at the nursery, and Layla will have to attend Southesk Primary at the other end of town as she does not live in the catchment area.
“I am led to believe this is the first year they have changed the rules like this,” said their mother Trudy. “I have contacted my local councillor and MP but the powers that be are not budging.
“My solicitor has also written as we believe the education department is breaching the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 which states local authorities have a duty to safeguard and protect the well-being of children in need, and keep life for them and their families as normal as possible.”
Finding a home suitable for wheelchair use and within the Lochside catchment had proved impossible.
“We just bought our home last year but finding a house suitable for wheelchair use was difficult enough without finding one in the Lochside catchment area.”Considerable challengeShe has been told by education bosses that they recognise having the two children at different schools will present the family with “a considerable challenge.”
They said they are sorry they cannot make special arrangements.
Trudy said, “My son has no choice but attend Lochside. It is the only school that can support him. If he could have gone to Southesk Primary it would have made life much easier for us because it is just around the corner.
“All the children in wheelchairs in Montrose go to Lochside. I know the council can’t change the rules for everybody, but as far as I am aware Riley is the only wheelchair pupil at Lochside with a sibling.
“They have offered to keep Layla for another year in the playgroup in the hope there would be a nursery place for her after that, but there is no guarantee of that, and we’re reluctant to hold her back from her pre-school year.”
A spokeswoman for Angus Council said, “We do not discuss individual children or their circumstances but always consider requests for placements at particular schools, taking into account a variety of circumstances.
“However, we are not always able to approve such requests, particularly where there is a significant demand for pre-school places, and where only a limited number of places are available.
“Notwithstanding this, we continue to closely monitor the position, liaising, where appropriate, with the school and parents/carers.
“It should also be noted there are different arrangements for placing requests for P1.”
Photo used under the Creative Commons licence courtesy of Flickr user TheTruthAbout.