Mum's education worries for son amid school delay

A Surrey mother claims her autistic son's education is being harmed amid delays to a new special educational needs (SEN) school.

Mum Michelle said she has to consider specialist schools an hour away while her 14-year-old son prepares for his GCSEs with just two hours of teaching a day.

A planned SEN school in Punchbowl Lane, Dorking stalled after an initial application was quashed on appeal.

A Mole Valley District Council spokesperson said traffic and safety concerns sparked objections to plans but the Department for Education (DfE) was preparing to resubmit an application.

Michelle said: "We thought if my son wasn't able to cope with mainstream school then the new school would be an option if we needed it.

"Now it's not there and it doesn't look like it will be there for some time. It's going to be of no use to us now."

Michelle said her son, who is autistic and has ADHD, suffered from low-level bullying and sensory overload while at The Priory School in Dorking and could not cope with attending.

He now receives two hours of one-to-one support every day learning maths, English and science, but is missing the opportunity to do more GCSEs, she said.

The Priory School said it immediately responded to bullying concerns when they were raised.

Plans to convert a former nursery site into Betchwood Vale Academy were submitted in November 2022, and approved by Mole Valley District Council, but later quashed on appeal.

Margaret Cooksey, Mole Valley cabinet member for planning, said the DfE was "putting more information together" but was "not in a position to submit the application".

Chris Coghlan, MP for Dorking and Horley, said he met with schools minister Catherine McKinnell, adding the DfE "wants to make sure that every I is dotted and T is crossed on the revised application".

Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.