Desperate parents from Shropshire want special school place for adopted son

The adoptive parents of a 16-year-old with special needs are asking the local authority to allow him to attend a school outside the region which they believe could help him.

The couple, from Shropshire, said their son had been out of school for 18 months because of his challenging and sometimes violent behaviour.

They found a school in Stourbridge that offered him a place, but said Shropshire Council told them there were no funds available.

The authority said it was working with parents to meet their needs and increasing the number of places available in special schools.

The couple, whose identities will remain anonymous to protect their son, said they tried to homeschool their son but that it made family life “unbearable.”

The teenager was diagnosed with: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), pathological avoidance behavior (PDA), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and attachment disorder, to name a few.

His adoptive father said his son’s behavior was “at times violent, destructive and very, very controlling and compulsive.”

Police were called to their home several times and the couple said they struggled at times to get him under control.

The adoptive father said his son was excluded from mainstream school in January 2023 for assaulting a teaching assistant and has not attended any education since.

He said Shropshire Council had provided them with a list of only three alternative schools, none of which they felt met his needs.

Instead, his wife said she searched hundreds of schools in Shropshire and surrounding counties and found 50 that might be suitable.

They shortened their list and after a successful visit they were offered a place at a special school in Stourbridge, but Shropshire Council would not authorise the move.

The father said they were told he would have to remain in his current educational environment, which was home schooling.

His wife said, “Having him here 24/7 is not good for him, and it is not good for us either.”

The couple said their teenager had no friends in the local area and his only relationships were online.

They hoped that the right school could help him develop his social skills.

His adoptive mother said, “If he were in the right institution, the right school, he could learn to build those relationships. He would be with experienced people who would help him progress, because he can become great.”

“Surely, every child deserves this chance,” she said.

Shropshire Council said: “We understand the family’s concerns and have worked with them to meet their child’s needs.”

“We have also provided further advice and guidance to the family should they wish to pursue the matter further.”