After repeated school refusals and episodes where Alastair ran away, he was placed in a newly commissioned social, emotional and mental health resource base at his primary school – a specialist unit for children who need extra help.
“When we used to force Alistair to go to school, he would escape. He would climb over a six-foot fence and jump over it,” Nichola said.
She said Alistair’s attendance had improved since he started at the unit.
His placement came after he was issued with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
An EHCP is a legal document issued by a local authority, setting out the support a child must receive. Nichola said getting it was difficult to navigate.
“Nobody gives you a manual and says, ‘Right, your child’s autistic, here’s what you can do.’ You have to find out yourself what works, what doesn’t,” Nichola said.
“I’ve learnt more from strangers in a WhatsApp group than from the council.”