Wakefield Council ordered to apologise after autistic Outwood Grange Academy student missed over a year of schooling due to delays in his care and poor record keeping

Wakefield Council has been ordered to pay compensation and to apologise for delays in taking action to help Theo Waddington.

An Ombudsman criticised the local authority for failing to arrange an appropriate education, health and care plan (EHCP).

A report also states that the Council was at fault for poor record keeping which led to the teenager suffering further distress.

Theo’s mum, Heidi Mavir, complained to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman over her son’s treatment while he was a pupil at Outwood Grange Academy.

Ms Mavir said: “I wouldn’t wish what we had to go through on anyone.

“The whole process has been very frustrating and very damaging.

“At the time I was really angry with the local authority but I think they are also working within the confines of being overstretched and underfunded.

“I went to the Ombudsman as I thought it was the only way to get accountability.

“This was never about money. It was about highlighting how there must be many other children and parents in a similar situation across the country.

“I really think we are looking at a crisis here.”

Theo, now aged 17, was identified as autistic when he was 14.

He was later diagnosed as also having ADHD.

Theo was 15 when he was unable to attend school as he struggled with anxiety in his GCSE year.

Ms Mavir reported Theo’s absence from education in February 2020 and asked for him to be assessed for an EHCP, requesting that he receive alternative provision.

The Council wrongly told Ms Mavir to apply for medical needs tuition through the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).

In March 2020, the Council continued to refuse to issue Theo for an EHCP.

Ms Mavir took the matter to a tribunal in June 2020 and the Council agreed to issue a plan for Theo a month later.

By this point, he had been out of full-time education for almost a full academic year.

The EHCP was eventually completed in October 2020.

Ms Mavir said: “The school seemed more concerned about their attendance records rather than getting a bespoke package of care for Theo.

“It wasn’t a question of whether he could go to school or not.

“He was simply too unwell and needed help. But he didn’t get it for over a year.

“Theo ended up getting just one GCSE from Outwood Grange Academy.

“We have no doubt that he would have left with 11 GCSEs if he had been given the right support.”

The Education Act says councils must make suitable full-time provision for children of school age who are absent because of illness, exclusion or otherwise.

The provision must be suitable for the child’s age, ability, and aptitude, including any special needs.

The Ombudsman’s report states: “I find fault with the Council for delaying taking action on (Ms Mavir’s) request for an EHCP assessment, and for not providing suitable education to (Theo).

“I also intend to find fault with the Council for its recording keeping.”

The Council has been ordered to pay £1,300 and to write a letter of apology to Ms Mavir and Theo.

The Ombudsman ordered the local authority to review its process for people who require medical needs tuition and to ensure staff receive proper training.

Ms Mavir said the ordeal had led to her giving up her job to look after Theo.

She now works as an advocate supporting families of autistic children.

Theo was eventually given support at a pupil referral unit in Wakefield where he obtained another five GCSEs.

He is now completing a year of Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS), which has helped him to recover from his ordeal and secure more qualifications to enable him to get a place studying animal care at Askham Bryan College, in York.

Ms Mavir said: “It has been a battle at every stage of the process.

“Theo really was very unwell.

“It has taken over two years to recover from what was in effect a mental breakdown

“We feel very lucky because he has managed to make a recovery.

“But many other children and families don’t get that.

“We hear about young people self-harming and attempting to take their own lives.

“People are dropping out of education altogether and are not getting the proper help they need.”

Andy Lancashire, Wakefield Council’s Service Director for Education and Inclusion said: “We fully accept the findings of the Ombudsman’s report and have sincerely apologised to the family.

“We have learnt lessons from this experience, have changed our procedures and are implementing the recommendations in the report.”