Overnight placements for Send pupils under threat

One mother says she fears her son will struggle as the school he attends may have to stop its residential service.

Fosse Way School, in Midsomer Norton, offers a 24-hour, residential option for some children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send).

However, Bath and North East Somerset Council has withdrawn its funding for the service, saying there are no children in its care who qualify for a residential placement. It said current pupils will be able to complete their one-year placements.

"We, as parents, will have to pick up the pieces. I'll have to work twice as hard," said Sharon Wilson, whose son Ruben, 15, goes to Fosse Way.

Ruben, who is autistic and non-verbal, has been living at Fosse Way for a year.

"Last year, Ruben's world was small," Ms Wilson said. "Since being at Fosse Way, his bubble has gotten bigger and he's talking to more people."

She said she fears he will lose all the skills he has learned and his world will "get smaller again".

Jessica Clark has an autistic son who went to Fosse Way House in his teens.

He is now 20 and lives in ed housing.

"You always worry about what happens when we as parents away," Ms Clark said. "What is his care going to look like":[]}