A furious mother has hit out at her 11-year-old son’s specialist-needs school after it closed down ‘unexpectedly’ due to financial difficulties and a poor Ofsted report.
Kelly Gration, 32, from Eastwood, Nottingham, said her son is now facing his third week at home after The Jubilee House Christian School shut it doors.
The mum-of-two is trying to find a new school for Henry Stocks, who suffers ADHD, but feels authorities are not doing enough to place him , Nottinghamshire Live reports.
She said: "He had some nice friends and I think it did help him. He wants to go to school and he misses being at school.
"I did not get a phone call, email or letter to say it was closing."
The single mum was informed by Nottinghamshire County Council she needs to fill out an application form on their website so they can move things further forward.
-
Cambridge graduate died after suffering heart attack in pool at brother's 21st birthday party
-
Girl, 13, 'gets pregnant with 10-year-old boy's baby' in 'alarming' case
"I feel like I have been forgotten," she added. "I am dyslexic myself so I can't help him with some of his school work.
"I have been going shopping and letting him pay for the stuff and count the change.
"I am helping him in my own way, but I can't help him with reading and spelling.
"I just don't want him to be like I am and not getting the grades. I feel like no one cares about my son's education."
In November 2019, The Jubilee House Christian School moved from its Dovecote Road site in Newthorpe to the former D H Lawrence heritage centre in Eastwood.
But only weeks into the move owner Rob Davidson decided to close it and the school was de-registered by Ofsted on January 9.
The independent school opened in 1999 for pupils aged three to 16 years, with more than half of students having special educational needs or disabilities.
It had received an inadequate inspection from Ofsted in September 2015, but had started to address concerns by February 2017.
-
Family's agony at schoolgirl 'suicidal aged six' as she tells mum 'I want to die'
Ms Gration said: "I thought if I rang the county council they would help me. If that was me who took my kid out of school I would be fined for it.
"It is not my fault that he is not in education. I am doing my best but it is like they are not bothered.
"He said 'mum it feels like I have no friends because I am stuck at home with you'."
His dad, Daniel Stocks, 36, is also appalled that no one has stepped in to find his son a school place.
He said: "It is just disappointing that he has not got a place. It is frustrating."
"It is now three weeks and he is missing out on his education. When he goes to school now he is not going to know anyone."
Nottinghamshire County Council said it is "imperative that children affected by the closure are back in mainstream education as soon as possible."
A spokeswoman for the local authority said: "We are sorry to hear about Ms Gration’s frustration in finding an alternative school place following the closure of Jubilee House school.
"We appreciate this must be a difficult time.
"It is imperative that children affected by the closure are back in mainstream education as soon as possible and, with this in mind, officers have been in contact with many parents to discuss alternative provision within the academy framework.
For us to begin the process to find an alternative place for Henry, Ms Gration would need to submit an in-year application which is available on the Nottinghamshire County Council’s website.
"To date we have not received one and Ms Gration has made a direct application to a Nottinghamshire Academy, this is outside of the council’s admissions process.
"Academies are their own admission authorities and have 20 days to respond to the family in respect of direct applications."
Source: Read Full Article