A BALLINGRY mum has hit out at Fife Council after she has been refused a specialised school placement for her four year old daughter.

Little Isla Rowley has complex additional needs including autism, sensory processing difficulties and language and development delay.

She currently attends Benarty Primary's nursery where she receives additional support support and, after meetings with staff there and the council's educational psychologist, mum Laura Neilson applied for a part time placement within the assisted support classroom along with a part time mainstream placement at the school.

She was shocked to hear that this application had been turned down and is now preparing for what she says is the latest battle with Fife Council to obtain the support that her daughter requires.

"As a mother of a child with additional needs I’m sick fed up of having to fight for services that my daughter is legally entitled too," said Laura. "It really shouldn’t be as hard as this to secure the support she requires.

"I’ve had to fight Fife Council for better housing which I’ve still not secured, fight for her blue badge, fight for her disabled parking bay at our home which has still not been done despite the difficulties and risk it presents to my daughter even just getting her in and out of a car safely and now this.

"I want to highlight our local authority’s failings as I’m sure there will be many other parents in similar situations and something needs to change about it."

Mum of four Laura, of Navitie Park, now plans to appeal the decision as she said Isla will not be able to cope with a full time place in mainstream education.

"The council is paying an educational psychologist top dollar but doesn't listen to their reports. If they were just to go into the nursery for 15 minutes and spent that time with her, they would see.

"It is not just autism. She has severe development issues. Even in terms of going out to play, going into a main stream playground she will be lost. She wont follow simple one word commands. If she goes out of the garden, she is gone. She has no sense of awareness. Despite her being four, she probably functions as a 12 month baby. She is still in nappies.

"How many barriers do we need to come up against? I feel really strongly that people are not able to speak out. I want this story out there. Not just for my family but to help others too.

"I know Fife Council policy. They have recently changed the policy. They are trying to put them all in main stream under additional needs. It doesn't work at all on any kind of level.

"Additional support is for children who are able but who are struggling a little. They are trying to get these children and integrate them together and it is not working. It is not right.The PSAs are struggling to cope and they are such dedicated people.

"The only way they can manage these children is to stick them in a corridor. Over my dead body is Isla going to become one of these children.

Laura believes putting Isla in mainstream school will set back the progress she has made in nursery and will lead to her being constantly distressed and socially isolated and has written too education chief Carrie Lindsay asking her to rethink the decision.

Ms Lindsay, Fife Council's Executive Director of Education and Children's Services, said: "We are committed to making sure that all of our children and young people get the support they need throughout their time in school.

"We will always discuss the individual needs of children with parents and carers and any concerns they may have. Parents also have the right to appeal decisions around placements and we would consider this too."