Autistic teenager stuck at home after school building closure

Louise and her son Cameron were first told of the closure on 19 November

A teenager with complex needs has been left feeling "stressed" over the partial closure of his specialist school in Derby.

A building at The Kingsmead School was closed on 19 November after heavy rainwater made it "unsafe".

Cameron, 15, has ADHD, autism and social anxiety, and his mum Louise said he had been struggling with the change to his daily routine.

Derby City Council said it was unaware how long the building would be closed.

Parents say their children have been offered temporary spaces at mainstream schools but they need to be in a setting suitable for students with complex needs.

Dozens of pupils have been affected by the closure of classrooms

Louise said she and fellow parents felt like their children were beating treated as "second class" students by the council.

She said: "He's out of his routine; it's not good for him to be at home. He's not getting the education he and other children deserve.

"When he's at school, I know he's in a safe environment and if there's a problem school will contact me. It's a nightmare leaving him alone while I go to work.

"[It will have] a long-term effect on them because they're going to struggle anyway in the outside world.

"I want to know why the council have not found an alternative, appropriate building for these children to transition straight into."

'Extremely difficult'

Of the 90 students who attend the school, 57 of them - in years nine, 10 and 11 - have been unable to attend the school's site in Brighton Road, Mackworth.

Cameron has struggled at mainstream schools in the past due to the noise and not having a specialist teaching assistant who "knows his triggers", his mum Louise added.

She said she was concerned he might not be able to return to the same school.

"[Not being at school] has made me very stressed," said Cameron. "I've just been sat at home all day for the past week or so.

"I've been waiting for my sister to come in and help me with my work or for my mum to come home.

"Going to school is very important for me because I've got two very good friends and that's the only time I get to see them or interact with them."

The school said it was working with the council to find "urgent" alternative arrangements for students.

Cameron had been set to take his GCSE mock exams

Mike Pride, executive director of the school, said: "It was an extremely difficult decision to close the areas of the school which are affected, but the health and safety of our pupils, staff and everyone who uses the building is of paramount importance."

Derby City Council said "areas of falling plaster within the ceiling void have been identified" and further surveys on the building were due to be carried out.

John Whitby, cabinet member for children's services, learning and skills, said: "We are working closely with several organisations to find a solution which will allow pupils to get back to face-to-face learning as soon as possible.

"A number of options are being explored, including moving pupils to alternative accommodation while repair work is carried out."

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