Mother Stopped From Homeschooling Handicapped Daughter Due to Child Neglect Law

A mother is being stopped from teaching her handicapped daughter at home thanks to social workers using a law covering child neglect and abuse.

Last Updated: 7:40PM BST 01 May 2009

Grace Robertson removed her daughter Elysha, seven, who has an illness so rare it has no name, from Newman Special School in Rotherham because she did not think she was making progress.

Rotherham Council's social services department, backed by the school, say that Elysha could be suffering isolation and missing the company of children by being kept at home.

Now they have ordered a case conference, using a law relating to child abuse and neglect to review Elysha's future education at a special hearing.

At the age of two Elysha was struck down by a disease, similar to motor neurone disease, but so rare doctors worldwide have been unable to identify it.

Although her mental ability is like any other seven-year-old, over the last give years the illness has robbed her of the use of the upper half of her body. She now communicates with her feet and she feed through a tube in her stomach, while she breathes through a special mask at night.

Her parents Mrs Robertson, 34, and husband Martin, who have another daughter, Shannah, 11, have been told they must attend the conference, called under section 47 of the Children's Act 1989 which covers children who are suffering or are in danger of suffering 'significant harm'.

Mrs Robertson, from Whiston near Rotherham, said: "I would lay down my life for my children and I deeply resent the suggestion that I am not doing my best of Elysha.

"And to use this law , which seems to accuse us of causing harm and neglect to our daughter, is both insulting and offensive.

"I want to teach my child at home because I believe she has made better progress than she did at Newman School where she was taught before."

A Rotherham Council spokeswoman said she was unable to comment on individual cases but said : "In general the authority would always recommend that children receive a better all round learning experience from attending school."

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