Mum's anger as son with ADHD is forced to 'wander streets'
A MUM from Neath says the education system has failed her 14-year-old son who has been left to wander the streets for the past two years while his peers are in school.
Nicola Williams, of Maydrew Way, said her family was at breaking point because her son, Ross, has not been in school since 2007.
He suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and is on the autistic spectrum.
"It has affected our lives so much. When we are in work we are worried sick about him," said Mrs Williams.
She explained Ross was told he could no longer attend Cwrt Sart comprehensive two years ago, and has not been in full-time education since then.
"He was put in the pupil referral unit at Ty Hafan but he was mirroring the bad behaviour there," she said.
Mrs Williams, who works as a supervisor in health records at Neath Port Talbot Hospital, said she removed Ross from the unit after a few months because of her concerns.
"I thought it wasn't helping him," she said.
Mrs Williams said after that, Ross was given unsuitable work placements and even sent to a monkey sanctuary.
"He was there half a day, because of his complaint he cannot cope with things like that," she told the Post.
Mrs Williams said fears over her son's lack of education were made worse by the fact he was left to his own devices during the day as both she and her husband have to work.
"We had it covered when he was in school because we took time out of our annual leave for holidays, but we cannot give up our jobs."
She explained the grandparents were currently unable to help due to their own work commitments and health issues.
"We have spoke to social services for advice but there is no provision," said the mum.
She added Ross himself was unhappy with the situation.
"He has a mobile phone and is constantly ringing work saying he is lonely."
Mrs Williams, aged 37, said her only hope is for her son to be accepted at a residential school which caters specifically for his needs.
"There is one in Newport where they stay until they are 18 and they work with them afterwards," she explained.
"He needs one-to-one help and cannot cope with lots of people," added Mrs Williams.
She also told the Post she was upset her son would probably never get the chance to gain any academic qualifications or fulfil his potential because of the difficulty in meeting his needs.
The council's head of support services and commissioning development, Andrew Thomas, said: "The authority is continuing to work with the family to ensure Ross's needs are met but we are committed to educating and caring for our pupils within our own county borough."
Government website Directgov says all children of compulsory school age (five to 16) must receive a suitable full-time education.
The education department of the local council must provide education for children who cannot go to school.
emma.denholm@swwmedia.co.uk
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by sarah, wales
Sunday, January 17 2010, 11:43PM
“MUM from Neath says the education system has failed her 14-year-old son who has been left to wander the streets for the past two years while his peers are in school. Also "She explained the grandparents were currently unable to help due to their own work commitments and health issues." "He has a mobile phone and is constantly ringing work saying he is lonely."
Anon so who exactly is looking after this child whist the parents are at work?
Anon it clearly states he is wandering the streets! Children with ADHD often put themselves in a dangerous position as thay act on impulse , this child also has ODD and is on the Autism Spectrum.
The law says children under the age of 14 qre not allowed to be left unatended at home , this boy is running the streets and since he was 12!
The term latch key kid springs to mind.
However if Social Services are involved these parents may well get the help this family needs.”
by P, Anon
Sunday, January 17 2010, 4:14PM
“Sometimes parents have to make a living to support their children, it is unfortunate Mrs Williams is in this situation. With out a wage how can you buy food and clothes for your children or heat the house. Perhaps she's left him with an adult and he's sneaked off. It doesn't actually say in the story he is left at home alone. I think Mrs Williams has enough problems already without some readers creating more for her by trying to say she is an unsuitable mother. Of course health and safety comes first but if you can't pay your mortgage or your rent and lose the roof over your child's head, where's the sense in that?”
by Debbie, swansea
Saturday, January 16 2010, 11:55PM
“Well done Sarah its nice to see that your son comes first, it is a rare thing these days ,good on you and I hope your son gets on well too.”
by Sarah, Swansea
Saturday, January 16 2010, 10:51PM
“My son has ADHD and is now 18, he was diagnosed in primary school and put into a normal class with no helper. In comprehansive he was put ito mainstream class where he flounderd in a few subjects then he was put into a special unit and was in for an hour a day!He came out of school with a few entry level qualifications and went on to collage where he learnt a trade.
These children need help and often dont get it . The main thing with these children is they need continuity and a rigid daily routine and dont handle things as well when its changed.Children with ADHD are very impulsive an act on spur of the moment , they do before thinking which makes them vunrable and can be dangerous.
How ever I am flabergasted that this child has these problems YET his parents leave him home alone!!!
Many children with ADHD are on disability benifits because they can be a danger to themselves. If they are on middle or hight rate care then carers allowance can be claimed for the main carer.
I am appaled that these parents are putting thier child in danger this way. On a daily basis , surely the childs health and saftey should come before any job. For the last 2 years he has been wandering the streets so he was 12 with ADHD ODD and on the Autistic Spectrum???
Where are the Social Services ???
Come on I gage up work to be here for my boy, choice between money and my childs health and saftey well its my sons health and saftey first!!!”
by Roo, Lette
Saturday, January 16 2010, 12:17AM
“the bit about monkey santuary made me chuckle.
coupled with a bag of frogs from a poster,
i am shocked this family hasnt gone down the line of claiming as a carer for their child as he obviously needed help and by all accounts still does.
Did the parents put their career first ?”
by gary, neath
Friday, January 15 2010, 9:21PM
“heh hes like a hypa ative billy elliot”
by Anon, Swansea
Friday, January 15 2010, 9:04PM
“Jack, myhouse, parents cannot always just choose a school and put their child in there. Everything has to go through proper procedures via the school and the LEA and if there are places available at the school plus if the school will take him on, ie. they have to have the facilities and adequate staff available. Not saying Mrs Williams son is like this but sometimes it will take a couple of adults to restrain a teenager if he has a major angry outtbursts and hits out. All these things have to go through special meetings and decisions made and agreed via the LEA. I am sure Mrs Williams prob have tried to get help already via the education system otherwise she wouldn't be pleading through the post for help as a last resort. And Deb who works as a teaching assistant, problems are not always recognised or developed sometimes till they start comprehensive. This may be due to acting out behaviour because of circumstances beyond their control, i.e problems at home, etc. For instance if they had a happy child hood during juniors then suddenly bad things started happening at home then symptoms may not develop till much later - I am referring to behavioural problems here which have to be treated with caution the same as ADHD. Unfortunately some children with ADHD are typecast as "just a naughty child" when they are ill and cannot help the way they are and need help and support. The same for children with emotional behavioural difficulties.”
by Jack, My house
Friday, January 15 2010, 7:46PM
“Why not try and get him into Ysgol Bryn Castell special needs school in Bridgend. They are in special measures as a school but it would get him some education. The head is a joke as are many of the teachers but something is better than nothing”
by Deb, swansea, swansea
Friday, January 15 2010, 7:10PM
“I am a Teaching Assistant and work one to one with a boy in junior school with ADHD, in school we do everything we can to help him and include him in everything, surely there would have been problems before he went to comprehensive school, and if he was statemented he would have been offered a one to one support to help him throughout school to cope with any problems with lessons etc.”
by Ann Lewis, Port Talbot
Friday, January 15 2010, 6:32PM
“Nothing about this story suprises me, Children with these problems are the last to receive any help. It is a terrible indictment on our society that youngsters with these problems are treated as a nuisance instead of receiving the help they so desperately need. There needs to be more training for teachers, social workers ect and all those working with vuneravble children such as this ladies son. I know of one young lad who although now an adult his life is in a complete mess but had he received the help he so desperately neded as a boy he would now be a happily adjusted young man. Instead he is struggling to cope. We should not just write these young people off the have so much to contribute to this world. I just hope this young man & his family gets the help he needs before its to late.”