Lambeth Council schools 'discriminated against my son'

Lambeth Council schools 'discriminated against my son'

6:40am Wednesday 4th February 2009

By Matt Watts »

A Streatham Hill mum who struggled to get her son a school place following his expulsion for behaviour related to ADHD has labelled Lambeth’s education system “discriminatory”.

Skye Kaminski, 7, was permanently excluded from Hitherfield School on November 3 after a violent episode where he was restrained by teachers.

But according to his mum Vivienne Ekine-Jack, 26, some six schools refused to accept Skye because he did not have a statement of special educational need (SEN), even though they had spaces.

She claims it was only after she threatened the council with legal action on the basis of discrimination that her son was offered a place at Sunnyhill Primary School shortly before Christmas.

She also says no advice was given to her on the importance of getting the SEN – which could see Skye receiving up to £15,000 a year in resources such as teaching assistants.

If he had a SEN he would have had the support in school meaning the episode that saw him excluded would not have occurred, Miss Ekine-Jack claimed.

“I just feel totally let down,” she added. “I honestly think if I had not hounded the council everyday and threatened legal action, Skye would have fallen off the radar and would be at home until his statement came through.”

“How many other children have fallen off the radar in this way?” she asked.

A council spokesman said this was a complex case which has now been resolved.

She said: “Since November the local authority has offered the parent a range of options in relation to her child’s interim education, which she declined. We have now resolved the matter by securing a long term placement for the child.

“At all times we have sought to support the child and work with his parent to ensure his educational needs are met and he was not out of school for too long.”

But Miss Ekine-Jack said the only education options offered by the council were home education – not possible as she is a working single mum – and the Pupil Referral Unit in Kennington, which had a waiting list.

Angry: Vivienne Ekine-Jack has accused the education system of discriminating against her son