A mum whose seven-year-old son has by no means spent a full day at college and can't learn or write says he has been “let down by the system”.
Michelle Cassesmis has desperately been making an attempt get assist for her little boy Louie Lee since he was in nursery, however says he's nonetheless ready on a prognosis of his particular academic wants and behavioural points.
The teenager solely acquired a press release of particular academic wants final yr when he was six, regardless of it being obvious to his academics and his mom that one thing was improper years earlier than.
Because of this, Louie Lee has by no means been capable of keep in school for the total college day, is illiterate and might solely rely as much as 20, Wales On-line experiences.
The only mother-of-three from Trowbridge, Cardiff, stated Louie’s former college St John Lloyd Main helped him get the assertion of particular academic wants.
She stated she had “nothing however reward” for the employees there however he couldn’t cope and he or she took him out altogether in July 2021. Since then Louie has stayed at residence which means she can not return to work as a hairdresser.
With no prognosis, no appropriate college can apparently be discovered for her son, Michelle stated. She is “heartbroken” that her youngest baby has no college mates and has been successfully denied the assistance he wants.
Michelle’s older youngsters aged 17 and 19 had no issues in school and went to the identical major. She stated lengthy delays in serving to youngsters like Louie meant they may not have him in for a full day as a result of he has so many behavioural and nervousness issues.
“When Louie began in reception he stayed in school for 90 minutes a day, then it went all the way down to 60 after which 30. He was on a really lowered timetable for years," she stated. “He didn't get a press release of particular academic wants till he was six and we're nonetheless ready to see somebody for a prognosis to see what's improper.
“He has been despatched a personal tutor at residence however that didn’t work both. I've been advised so many issues he might need, however he has had no prognosis. I've been advised he appears to have autism or ADHD. We now have been forwards and backwards to the docs for 3 years. The headteacher of his college was superb.
"I can’t say a foul phrase about her, however she was ready the place it was not attainable to maintain Louie in class. It grew to become pointless sending him in. He didn’t need to go away the home and has attachment points. I used to be struggling to get him in to highschool. Then in any case that he was solely in for half an hour. It wasn’t well worth the chaos and battle.”
Michelle stated the college acquired Louie one to at least one assist however he couldn’t construct a relationship and that failed too: “I've been advised so many issues however Louie has misplaced a lot. He can’t learn or write and has by no means had any college life in any respect. He’s not performed within the college yard or joined in with PE.”
Michelle stated every part acquired worse throughout lockdown as a result of her little boy grew to become so agitated there was a interval the place she couldn't go away the home with him for a number of weeks: “I'm heartbroken that every one his life we've not acquired extra for him. I've accomplished parenting programmes and accomplished every part that was instructed. I really feel Louie has been let down by the system and nobody has any solutions. I can’t work as a result of Louie wants taking care of.
"He will get offended, he struggles to share and suffers from nervousness and attachment points and doesn’t sleep nicely. I simply need some assist and somebody to pay attention I'm starting to get so labored up and harm and there's a lot emotion.”
Michelle stated her older youngsters, Hollie, 17, and Michael, 19, are supportive and “good” with their little brother. Each her older youngsters went by college with no issues. Hollie is now finding out at Cardiff and Vale Faculty and Michael works in retail.
She stated: “Louie has an excellent relationship together with his brother and sister. My older youngsters are good with him but it surely’s onerous for them to cope with too. Coping with this was all new to me. We simply want some assist. It’s been so lengthy.”
Cardiff and Vale College Well being Board stated it was sorry for the lengthy delays in referral that Louie has had. A spokesperson stated: “We apologise to Louie and his household for the delays skilled in exploring a prognosis. The diagnostic course of for neurodevelopment is advanced and ready occasions for entry into providers will not be the place we would need.
“We're working onerous to enhance this. This consists of making adjustments to the best way providers are organised primarily based on session with quite a lot of well being professionals with experience on this space and persevering with to discover alternatives to extend capability.
"Our groups are additionally working intently with mother and father and colleagues within the training sector to assist the referral course of and the gathering of the data required by professionals to assist diagnostics.”
Cardiff Council stated a toddler’s wants don’t rely on prognosis. A spokesperson stated: “Cardiff Council’s training providers will at all times endeavour to reply to a toddler’s wants and this isn't depending on a diagnostic course of.
“Faculties are supported to offer a sequence of provision to pupils and their households relying on their circumstances and particular person wants. This consists of offering specialist educating recommendation and assist, facilitating academic psychology evaluation and recommendation, offering a bespoke wellbeing and nurturing method to studying and the place applicable, the availability of tuition at residence while an appropriate placement is discovered.
“Making certain that the person wants of every baby is met is our precedence and work is undertaken with a multi-agency method to search out appropriate and sustainable provision which permits the kid to thrive and which works for each pupil and household.”
Neither of which helps Michelle know when or the place Louie could also be seen for a possible prognosis or if and when he'll get a spot in a college or particular college the place his wants might be met, she stated, including: “I nonetheless really feel that he’s been uncared for by each the training board and NHS. It’s improper how they’ve simply left him. Does that imply now then they going to maneuver a bit quicker?"
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