Boy in 10 week delay for special needs school place

An 11-year-old boy is still waiting for a school place more than 10 weeks after moving counties.

Seth has Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome and complex needs, but Wiltshire Council has told his family there are no special needs places available.

His father said: "He's getting frustrated, he needs to be with children of his ability."

Wiltshire Council said it is trying to help but all suitable school places are full.

Seth has been promised a secondary school place in September 2022.

In the meantime he has been offered 1.5 days of one-to-one tuition, but this does not involve any interaction with other children.

Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome is a rare condition which causes a short stature and moderate learning difficulties.

Seth's father Mark, who moved to Chippenham from Torbay in November 2021, said he has found the delays "frustrating."

"With [Seth's condition] comes challenges.

"We're left with three and a half days a week of looking after him and working which is a struggle.

"It's difficult to be on a conference call with work when Peppa Pig and The Wiggles are on in the background.

"We wake up every day and the first thing Seth says to me is: 'what are we doing today":[]}