An angry Perth mum has claimed the council is failing her autistic son by forcing him out of the region to continue his education.
The woman, who asked not to be named, says has been told her 10-year-old is no longer suitable to educate in the Perth and Kinross area and must attend a school outside the region.
She claims her son has been out of formal education since July 2015 after the local authority removed its support.
“My son has autism and has continually been failed by the local authority,” she said.
“He was at Robert Douglas autism unit from April to July 2015. Prior to this he was at Craigie Primary from March 2013 to October 2014 and both times the local authority are the people who removed him from education.
“He has gone from having no additional need four years ago to them claiming that he has such a significant need that he is no longer suitable for education in the local authority.”
The council has suggested alternative schools in Fife, Edinburgh and Auchterarder. However, this would be a move his mother believes he neither wants or needs.
She continued: “I am now in a situation where the only offer that the council are willing to consider is private specialised education outwith the local authority.
“They have formally offered a school in Fife, the second such formal offer, over an hour away which I assume due to its size and location would be very costly. This is money which could be used not only to support my child but many children with additional needs.
“My son does have education needs which could be managed within the local authority in a mainstream placement, with support which was happening previously.”
She added: “My son has been out of formal education since July 2015 after the local authority removed his support and asked me not to return him to school.
“This is the third time since September 2012 that he has been out of education. Despite evidence from other organisations of my son’s abilities, their view of my son and their beliefs of my son do not match the views of people who actually know him.”
A Perth and Kinross Council spokesman said: “We cannot comment on individual circumstances, however, we take our responsibility to provide the most appropriate educational provision for children and young people across Perth and Kinross very seriously.
“In doing so, we seek to identify, at the earliest opportunity, any additional support needs that children and young people may require to ensure that the most appropriate support and resources are in place to best meet those needs.”