News Shopper, 29/04/2003

A mother has attacked education chiefs for failing her son, who has not been in school for 18 months due to the fact that he has Asperger's syndrome.

Karen Jones, 49, of Lewisham, in south-east London, says that nine-year-old Charlie needs to be in school to help him with his social problems. Charlie, who was taken out of Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School in October 2001 after being bullied, has now been out of school for 18 months because Lewisham Council has been unable to find him a place.

Mrs Jones said: "I feel disgusted. I want my son in school because he doesn't socialise very well and this is what he needs."

Individuals with Asperger's syndrome, believed by many to be on the high-functioning end of the autistic spectrum, have difficulties getting on with other people and show obsessive or repetitive behaviour.

Three primary schools rejected Charlie and the council only provided him with a home tutor when his condition was diagnosed in May 2002.

Mrs Jones said: "We thought it was pointless to keep going to schools if they would refuse him. It was only when we found out he had the syndrome that the local education authority was forced to provide home tutoring."

A spokesman for the council says that a decision should be made this week on getting Charlie a school place when the case goes before a special-needs panel.