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Prime Minister promises intervention in Essex school sibling rule dispute
Overview
The Prime Minister has pledged to ask the Department for Education to intervene after a family with a severely disabled child in Essex was affected by a school's attendance policy. Labour MP Jen Craft raised the case at Prime Minister's Questions, stating that the family cannot attend school events because they cannot leave their three-year-old disabled son William, who requires round-the-clock care. The Catalyst Academies Trust, which runs Benyon Primary School, denies a ban and cites practical and safety limits on attendee numbers, but the chief executive has offered to discuss further arrangements with the family.
Key points
- The Prime Minister promised to instruct the Department for Education to speak with the academy trust to resolve the situation.
- Jen Craft, MP for Thurrock, raised the family's case at Prime Minister's Questions after the trust allegedly refused to make exceptions or meet.
- Parents Natasha and James say they have missed numerous school events for their six-year-old daughter Hollie because they cannot leave their disabled son William or find suitable care.
- The Catalyst Academies Trust denies a sibling ban, stating that attendance numbers must be controlled for practical and safety reasons.
- The trust's chief executive stated that parents were previously advised that events are limited to two adults per pupil and offered to speak with the family to find further arrangements.