A determined dad who took a council to court in a bid to pull his special needs son out of school has won the right to homeschool him.
Stephen Clark said his son Cameron, 10, was being failed by a “broken” school system which had left him stuck in P5 while “at nursery level”.
The dad, from Prestwick, Ayrshire, told the Record in February about fears the youngster would be forced to go to high school in two years’ time while he is mentally years behind his peers.
He had been locked in a battle with a council for years over his son’s mainstream schooling at St Ninian’s Primary and lost a bid to move Cameron to a school he claims is more suited to his needs.
Stephen, 49, served a court writ on South Ayrshire Council in March after a bid to homeschool his son was rejected.
But an appeal against the decision was accepted and the dad claims has seen Cameron achieve “academic and personal breakthroughs” in the last two weeks that “the council previously claimed were impossible”.
View 3 ImagesCameron pictured learning at home(Image: UGC)
Stephen said: “The change in Cameron’s confidence and ability is night and day. This progress proves what I have told the court and the council from the beginning. My son wasn’t ‘failing’; the system was failing him. Because he is no longer in a state of high anxiety, his voice is finally being heard.
“He’s come on great. He’s talking more and behaving better.
“In the last four months I’ve had to be a detective, a lawyer and a teacher. Reading up on rules and regulations. It’s been mindblowing.”
Cameron, who had major surgery as a baby for craniosynostosis, which is thought to contribute to his learning difficulties, had attended St Ninians since he was five.
A recent school report said he had “not yet achieved early level” in his subjects but described him as a “happy boy who has great enthusiasm for coming to school”.
Stephen claimed Cameron had been “taunted” by other pupils and hoped he could move to a class for additional needs attached to another school in Ayr last year, but was then told the he had to stay put.
View 3 ImagesSingle dad Stephen is taking on the council in court(Image: DAILY RECORD)
He requested that he be placed in another nearby primary school but this was rejected.
South Ayrshire Council stated the move would be “seriously detrimental to the continuity of the child’s education” and a report expressed concerns that the new school would not be able to offer the same support he has had at St Ninian’s.
Stephen’s appeal was rejected and he previously told the Record he felt he was being “fobbed” off by education chiefs.
He said: “It will be like bringing a five-year-old kid into high school. My son or add simple maths.”
Council chiefs then rejected the dad’s homeschooling application, saying there was not enough information to show Cameron’s “developmental, learning and support needs” would be met.
Stephen’s court writ appealing against the decision not to allow his son to move schools, stated that education chiefs have provided “no proof” that it will affect his education.
His appeal to be allowed to homeschool Cameron was accepted at the start of May.
But the dad said he will continue with his court battle, with a long-term goal of securing Cameron a place at a school in Ayr for children with complex needs.
Stephen said: “I’m still fighting for my son’s rights. I’ve been brought to the point where I’m not going to accept anything less than what my son is entitled to. I’m going to fight it to the end until I get what I need for my son.”
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A South Ayrshire Council spokeswoman said: “As set out in legislation, it is a parent’s duty to provide education for their child. Many parents choose to exercise this right through home education.”
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