A MUM has told how her son was expelled from school at the age of FOUR – and has been stuck at home ever since.

Laura Jordan, 36, said her son Zac, now five, was kicked out of Holly Hill Church School, in Rubery, Worcs., last October.

The tot had suffered a number of behaviour problems and had attacked other pupils and staff, The Mirror reports.

But mum Laura, from Redditch, Worcs., was shocked to learn councils are not required to get kids back into classrooms if they are expelled before their fifth birthday.

She told The Mirror: "Zac started reception in September and within five weeks he had been permanently excluded.

"Ever since he's been out of school as he was only four and the compulsory school age is five.

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"It's pure discrimination, the whole thing. I don't think it's morally right he's out of school when people the same age as him are able to go to school."

The mum, who believes Zac may have special behavioural needs, claims he has been "left behind" and offered "no alternative schooling".

And she says while her son used to be "happy outside the house" he now "doesn't want to leave because he's not mixing with other kids".

The mum-of-two, who is aware of her son's behaviour issues, believes he has autism, ADHD and speech and language problems which make certain situations "overwhelming" for him.

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But she believes his school "didn't give him chance or time to adjust to his environment or the new staff in his classroom" and could have taken more time to manage his behaviour before excluding him.

Worcestershire County Council has since apologised for failing to find Zac a suitable school and said it is working with his mum to get him back into the classroom.

According to Laura, the authority now has until April to get him back in education after he turned five in February.

But she said the two special needs schools they requested are full.

It means Zac may have no choice but to slot into a mainstream option, leaving Laura terrified he will be excluded again and again.

A Department for Education spokesperson said suspensions and permanent exclusions should only be used "as a last resort", but that they support headteachers to suspend or exclude pupils "where it is necessary and helps maintain calm classrooms".

They added: “We are consulting on changes to behaviour and exclusions guidance to make sure this is used in a fair way, and the cross-government SEND Review will further consult on how children with special educational needs and disabilities are supported by the system, including in alternative provision.”

Local authorities are responsible for arranging full-time education for excluded pupils once they reach compulsory school age.

Worcestershire County Council's cabinet member for education Marcus Hart told The Mirror: “Parent carers have a statutory right to ask for a particular educational setting and support for their child but it can at times be challenging to find the right place that has capacity and can meet a child’s individual needs.

"The law requires all children to start full-time education by the beginning of the term following their fifth birthday and we are working with Ms Jordan to find a suitable and appropriate school that meets Zac’s assessed needs, ready for him to start school in April.

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"We are sorry that we have been unable to source an educational provision for Zac that has been able to meet his needs for this period and we acknowledge this is unacceptable for Zac, indeed for any child.

"We are continuing to work alongside Ms Jordan and relevant healthcare providers and partners to ensure that we have a high quality, lawful Educational Health and Care Plan in place for Zac, that will help to ensure he receives the tailored help and support he needs at all stages of his educational journey.”

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