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Asperger’s sufferer Harvey Pay, five, banned from playtime after escaping from Warren Wood Primary School in Rochester

Five-year-old Harvey Pay
Five-year-old Harvey Pay

A mother is unhappy that her little son has been banned from playtimes after he escaped from school on three occasions.

Lisa Gore, of Arethusa Road, Rochester, said she is worried about the five-year-old's safety after he was able to jump the fence in the playground at Warren Wood Primary School, Rochester.

Harvey Pay, who suffers from Asperger's syndrome, was banned from school lunchtimes after his third attempt.

Ms Gore said: "I fear for my son's safety. For him to be able to climb over it is worrying. He can get on to Arethusa Road, which is a busy road."

Ms Gore claims her son keeps jumping the fence because he is bored and unable to interact with other children due to his condition.

Asperger's syndrome is a form of autism, which affects how a person makes sense of the world and how they relate to other people.

People with the condition have difficulties with communication and interaction. Children often have above-average intelligence, but have learning difficulties such as dyslexia and other conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Ms Gore said: "He needs extra support from the school. We keep saying he is not getting enough and I keep having meetings with people, but nothing is happening.

"He needs constant attention, but instead of the school helping him, they are excluding him."

Schoolboy Harvey Pay at home in Rochester
Schoolboy Harvey Pay at home in Rochester

Ms Gore claims she only found out about the third incident after finding a letter in her son's school bag which said he had been excluded from lunchtimes for a fortnight.

After ringing the school to complain, Harvey was allowed to stay in a computer room at lunchtimes.

Ms Gore added: "It's not fair that he is missing out at lunchtimes. He lives for outdoors and wants to be outside all the time.

"Because of his Asperger's he has difficulty communicating with the other children, and by being kept in a classroom, he is even more isolated."

Barbara Peacock, Medway Council's director of children's services, said: "We take the safety and wellbeing of every child as paramount.

"We are unable to discuss individual cases in detail, but since these incidents took place the head teacher and a member of Medway Council's staff have both spoken with Ms Gore regarding the best way to meet Harvey's needs, and we will continue to work with the family to ensure he is safe, happy and learning well at the school."

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