A mum has left her role as a special educational needs and disabilities coordinator to focus on her son, who has been without a school place for seven months.

Amy Ovenden from Maidstone says she’s been “battling” with Kent County Council (KCC) to get her son Leighton into a specialist school.

The 10-year-old was issued an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), which sets out the additional support he needs from the local authority for special educational needs, in November last year.

KCC agreed Leighton needed a specialist provision, but when Amy found an independent school which could meet his needs, Aspris Woodview, the local authority declined it because of how much it would cost.

However, she claims KCC couldn’t offer an alternative as none of its maintained state-funded schools said yes to him.

It was only when mum-of-three Amy took it to a high-cost panel, KCC agreed Leighton could have a space there.

However, Amy says KCC did not confirm Leighton’s space with Aspris Woodview, and consequently, the school place was taken by another child.

As a result, Leighton’s case then went to tribunal and a judge ordered KCC to find another school.

The family found Kings Park in Ashford but KCC would not agree to it because it “did not meet its threshold for quality teaching” and said Leighton would have no peer group because there are no children enrolled there.

As we reported in June, the new special needs school remains empty months after opening despite being inundated by daily calls from parents “who want their children there”.

Amy, 33, said: “He’s already been at home for eight months now without a peer group and no social exposure.”

By this point, several months had passed and the family put in a request for an Education Other Than In School (EOTIS) package because “that was all that was left”.

The family went to tribunal again on Wednesday, July 30, and says KCC only got in contact with Amy’s advocate at 4.30pm the day before.

The 33-year-old said: “It’s just been a battle from start to finish to get them to even engage.

“Leighton’s had an EHCP since November last year and he’s had no provision apart from one hour a day of tuition.

“Nothing else in that EHCP which he is legally entitled to has been provided.”

Amy says Leighton has autism, ADHD and sensory processing disorder, as well as emotional based school avoidance.

Due to the mental and emotional toll of fighting for his school placement alongside her own jobs in SEND, the mum-of-three made the tough decision to leave her role.

She also employed an advocate, costing thousands of pounds, to represent her in court, as well as paying for private play therapy for Leighton.

At the tribunal, KCC agreed to the EOTIS package, but it is yet to be put together.

If the package goes ahead, Leighton will get up to 10 hours of tuition a week, as well as occupational therapy sessions, play therapy sessions and anything else his EHCP states he needs.

Shannon Hill, Amy's representative, said KCC did not engage with her or her client despite "numerous" emails.

She said the decision for Leighton to be educated through EOTIS was "not a choice" for her client but is the only option she considered suitable given the lack of appropriate provisions within the borough.

Amy said: “When KCC moved the school place, because they said it costs too much money, they are now going to have to pay so much more giving him all these provisions outside of school when they could have just put him in an appropriate school in the first instance.”

Since leaving her role working for KCC, Amy has been vocal about KCC’s handling of SEND provision.

She said: “I can no longer work for a system that has failed and continues to fail so many children, including my own.”

Amy worked as a SENDCo for eight years in both private and maintained settings, has a degree in Early Childhood Studies and is Level 3 SEND law trained.

“The education system including the SEND system is broken. It is not fit for purpose,” she added.

“Not only has the system failed my son so horrifically, but I have now left a career that I loved - and was good at - because of those failings.

“The system within Kent now for special education is so broken.”

Now Amy has left her job, she intends to support families independently and campaign for an overhaul of the system.

She said: “Even in the position I am in, I couldn’t get what I needed for my child.”

She has an Instagram and TikTok account, The Inclusive Class, where she has shared her open letter of resignation to Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education, outlining her reasons for leaving.

It has been flooded with comments from parents with similar backgrounds in education stating they too have also left their jobs, because they need to focus their energy on supporting their own children who they say are being “failed” by the current education system.

A Kent County Council (KCC) spokesperson said: “KCC is committed to making sure every child and young person in Kent has access to high-quality educational provision that is suited to their individual needs.

"We are working closely with Leighton’s family to ensure he has this access.

"Leighton’s provision has been agreed through the tribunal process, and we will continue to work with the family to make sure this agreement is put in place swiftly."