My son Max attends Greenacre specialist provision school in Barnsley that is owned by the Wellspring Academy Trust. Max is 10 years old and he has had and will always have the following challenges to deal with: Homocystinuria, Epilepsy, ADHD, Partially sighted, Hypermobility, Hypomilination (brain damage), Gastronomy tube, wears specialist shoes, 16p13.11, None verbal, requires a low protein diet, specialist feeds.

When the Covid 19 pandemic swept across the country we were told by the Prime Minister that the schools would stay open for children just like my son. My son’s school did a risk assessment without me and without the Local Authority and shut their doors to Max.

My son is in receipt of continuing health care which means he is a REALLY vulnerable child. On the week commencing 16.03.20 we were just managing Max’s 24/7 care needs with the following provisions:

•             A full-time specialist school placement with 1:1 support

•             School Transportation

•             12 hours per week respite with a 2:1 ratio

•             1 overnight respite stay per week

*School Holidays: 14 hours per week with a ratio of 2:1, 2 daytime sessions per week and 1 overnight per week.

From Monday 23rd March 2020 to this present day the Wellspring Trust has point blank refused for my son to attend his school and only at week six did we get a fraction of the respite care with the days and times prescribed to us. The school are paid multiple thousands of pounds per year from PUBLIC money to deliver this education and I kindly asking for your support to make sure Max receives a version of that education as soon as possible.

During this time in lockdown we have seen Max become more and more upset and unable to cope with his life. There have been days when he’s had 25 fits and we’ve just had to get on with it. Max doesn’t understand what’s happening and needs structure and routine to his day. His behaviour has gone downhill and I get attacked on a daily basis. If my husband (Lee) was attacking me someone would act straight away but because it’s Max I just having to take it all. I’m tired beyond belief and my mental health is in the toilet. Things got that bad the other week that I asked for Max to be taken into care

Sadly, on VE Day, Lee had a heart attack and had to go to Sheffield Northern General Hospital in an ambulance and straight into emergency surgery. I couldn’t go with him as I had to sit at home and pretend nothing had happened in case Max and his brother (Xander) became upset. Were it not for the brilliant ambulance staff and the fantastic level of care at Northern General I dread to think what could have happened. Lee spent a number of days in the ICU and was eventually brought home to recover and relax which at present has been completely impossible in this house.

We cannot continue as we are and Barnsley Local Authority are more supportive of the school than of our family. We have covered every possible argument as to why the risk assessment is unfair and inaccurate but we continue to be rejected by the trust

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