Classroom 'not big enough for walking frame'
A MOTHER says she feels "let down" because her son who suffers cerebral palsy cannot move around his small classroom, writes Eleanor Radford.
Becci Lomax from North Prospect sends five-year-old Finlay to Riverside Primary School, a new build in Barne Barton.
But Becci said despite the classrooms being brand new, they are not big enough for Finlay to move around with his walking frame.
She said he cannot get to certain parts of the room such as a play area and a section of trays and has even resorted to crawling on his knees.
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She said: "I'm not criticising the education, it's a great school but I cannot believe the classrooms weren't built big enough for disabled children.
"It's really bad for his knees to be doing this. Fin's needs are being ignored," she said.
The North Prospect mother travels further than most parents to get to the school.
"I picked what I thought was the best school around because it was new and because they told me his needs would be facilitated."
She said gaps between tables were too narrow and with 30 pupils in such a small space there was simply no room.
"I feel let down because there is no easy fix to this situation. I just think they should have thought about the design better – I was assured that his needs would be met but that hasn't really happened."
She said that as the parent of a child with specific needs she felt she was constantly asking for things.
"I don't want to battle with the school but you feel worn down with it all. There is no parental support and disability discrimination is very serious."
Riverside Community Primary School headteacher Brian Jones said that Riverside was a relatively new school, with full disabled access and was built to government standards.
He said: "All classrooms comply with government rules on sizes and the school is proud to cater for children with a wide range of needs and use full time teaching assistants where necessary to fully access the curriculum."
"The school is committed to meeting the needs of all its pupils and will always listen to any concerns parents may have," he said.
The school had arranged for a specialist to visit and review the classroom layout to see if there are any further modifications that could be made, he said.
The outcome would then be discussed with Becci.
He added: "We are confident that the special needs of children at the school will continue to be met."
Comments
by blu95
Tuesday, September 20 2011, 2:32PM
“if a child has such specific needs surely a visit to the school prior to choosing it would have been the sensible thing to do !”
by chrisplym0000
Tuesday, September 20 2011, 2:14PM
“If Becci is so unhappy with the size of classrooms at Riverside, there's always Victoria Road or Weston Mill schools. I don't want to see thousands of pounds wasted on modifying a new school just to cater for one pupil. I don't mean to sound cruel but perhaps Riverside is not suitable for Becci's child. There was a similar story regarding a girl with cerebral pausy who was unable to attend her local secondary because the corridors were too narrow (also a new build). Special schools are there to cater for children with additional needs.”
by chaoswizard
Tuesday, September 20 2011, 5:56AM
“i dont wish to seem rude here but any child with disabilities that requires walking aids or even a wheel chair will find it taxing in a new school but this is just the begining its a bit much to feel let down just yet they need to work around your childs needs modify and adjust then if they still fail in their duties then feel let down, for now just be a little aggrieved that they havnt got there yet work with them and let your son shine he is at the begining not the end”