School made disabled boy miss half a year - then excluded him

Hertfordshire County Council has been asked to pay more than £15,000 compensation amid "significant concerns" over its failure to intervene - including giving his father and an investigation "inaccurate information".

The boy, who has not been named, was due to begin reception in September 2020, but his parents were told to pick him up at 11am on his first day.

The school did not have the necessary measures outlined in the child’s Education Health and Care (EHC) plan, which said he needed a range of additional help.

Over that school year, the pupil was offered a part-time education, which meant he received half the school hours he was meant to receive.

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And when the boy started to attend more hours, the school started to sanction him for behaviour linked to his disability – and in March 2021 he was permanently excluded.

The father said it was obvious the school did not want his child to remain there.

A Local Government Ombudsman’s report has now revealed the school admitted disability discrimination against the boy, known as Y.

The ombudsman said there was no evidence the boy needed a reduced timetable and that the school did so because it did not employ enough staff.

The report states there were “significant concerns” with the way Hertfordshire County Council handled complaints made about the school.

This included the council providing “inaccurate information” to the father and ombudsman, blaming Covid-19 for delays and claimed the boy was “unable to engage with education”.

The school admitted to discrimination. Credit: PA (Image: PA)

The report said: "[The school] said it had failed to make reasonable adjustments to its behaviour policy, failed to provide auxiliary aids (including support from suitably qualified staff) and failed to provide interventions in the EHC plan including therapies.

"It had wrongly limited Y's time in school and wrongly excluded him because of behaviours that arose from his disability."

A number of recommendations were made, including compensation of more than £15,500 to cover private tuition costs and legal fees.

Hertfordshire County Council said it took the findings “very seriously” and it will act on the report, apologising for the “frustration, distress and educational disruption caused.”

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