Paul Gibson speaks about his son Joseph's learning needs and his anger at the recommended school place he has been offered.
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LearningTranscript
00:00 Okay then Paul, I understand Joseph's now been recommended a place at Sandhill View Academy.
00:06 What do you make of this recommendation? Will he cope?
00:09 Yeah, certainly won't cope.
00:12 There's no provision there to help with his artistic needs, his learning difficulties, he needs an amended curriculum.
00:21 Possibly there is some support there for his hearing because they may be opening the deaf centre battle, but everything else, there's nothing there.
00:32 We've actually spoken to teachers from Sandhill School and they've told us it's not the place for him to go.
00:37 I understand that one of the issues is his healthcare plan because he's got diagnoses of autism and learning difficulties but you say this isn't reflecting his plan at the moment.
00:46 I mean, they've sent the draft plan out which we've had to pull a letter in, disagreeing with it.
00:52 They've actually sent us all the reports out as well with the plan, what they have received from health professionals,
00:58 clearly stating about his autism, his learning difficulties, his educational psychology report, which is very low, CME is three to four years behind.
01:09 Yet in the plan itself, there's nothing mentioned, it's all centred around his deafness.
01:15 So what's the next stage and what are you going to do now, are you going to repel it?
01:19 We've got no option but to repel it, but the problem we've got is how long does it take?
01:25 He'll be starting secondary school in September and if nothing is sorted by then, he won't be going to Sandhill, he won't be going into mainstream or Keaton Hall or homeschool until something is in place.
01:38 I personally think Together for Children and Sunderland Council need to take a look at themselves, I think the system is wrong for children with deafness and autistic net.
01:50 Thank you.