'Our lives have been turned upside down by Send struggle'

A DERBY mum has told how her life has “turned upside down” because of the struggles she has in finding her son suitable special needs education.

- By NIGEL SLATER

The parent, who did not wish to be named, hit out at Derby City Council for failing to provide her autistic child an adequate Send (Special Education Needs and Disability) school placement for the last two years.

The mum is not alone with Send concerns with Derby and Derbyshire facing a so-called “crisis point”. Earlier this year MPs told Parliament that families were being “failed on an industrial scale” for years.

Around the same time, it was revealed Derby City Council was facing more than 50 tribunals over decisions it reached on children’s education needs.

The council said its situation was “no different to that of other local authorities” - but it has invested millions of pounds to improve capacity for children.

The mum said she did not wish to be named because a legal case for her child was ongoing.

But she said the stress her family had been put through was “immense” as the wait for a suitable education placement goes on.

She revealed her emotional account after a silent protest was held in Derby on Monday.

The unusual demonstration saw more than 100 pairs of shoes placed on the pavement outside the Council House on Corporation Street.