Actress and TV presenter Danielle Mason claims her 12-year-old son, who has autism, has been out of school for over a year due to lack of funding for his special educational needs, and says he will “never go back” . because his confidence has been greatly affected.”
Mason, 41, who lives in Bracknell, says his son Rudy, who should be in Year 8, has been refused a place at numerous Berkshire schools after being excluded 21 times from his last school, The Brakenhale School.
Danielle, sister of EastEnders star Jessie Wallace, is mum to Rudy and Delilah, 10, whom she shares with ex-partner Tony Giles.
Speaking to MailOnline, the mother-of-two claims schools “cannot cope” with her son’s EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) due to a “lack of government funding” and that she received homework for the first time in a year this week.
She says her daughter Delilah, who also has an EHCP due to mental health issues, is currently in Year 6 of primary school and has also not secured a place at several senior schools.
Danielle Mason told MailOnline that her 12-year-old son, who has autism, has not been in school for over a year because, she claims, “no mainstream school will take him” due to a lack of funding for his special educational needs. (Pictured: Danielle with her children Delilah, left, and Rudy, right)
Danielle said: “My little boy, who was diagnosed with autism, went from primary school to secondary school without problems, being excluded 21 times until the school agreed they would allow him a managed move.”
A managed move is a behavioral strategy for children at risk of permanent exclusion if other approaches to improving the child’s behavior have failed and the school believes that a fresh start elsewhere might work.
The mother claimed her son would be excluded for “silly reasons” such as coming in sneakers instead of school shoes, while on other days he was “triggered” when the school was unable to adequately cater for his needs.
The mother-of-two claimed schools “cannot cope” with her son Rudy’s EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) due to a “lack of government funding”.
She said: “He would just sit in his room not socializing and the school would keep him off four days in a row until it got to the point where he hadn’t studied in year seven.”
Mason continued: ‘They moved me to another school and they also said they didn’t have the staff there to look after their needs.
“Their EHCP plan has been delivered and no mainstream schools will accept it because they do not have the staff to meet its needs due to lack of funding.”
An Education, Health and Care plan is a legal document that sets out a child’s special educational needs, the support they need and what they would like to achieve.
He added: ‘They do not have the staff to meet their needs due to lack of funding. That’s all they say, they have no funding.
Danielle, sister of EastEnders star Jessie Wallace, is mother to children Rudy (left) and Delilah, 10 (right), who she shares with ex Tony Giles.
Meanwhile, her daughter Delilah, who also has an EHCP due to mental health issues, is currently in Year 6 of primary school and, Danielle claims, has also been rejected from several senior schools.
“They say he can go to his old school for a couple of hours a day, but they call me after an hour because his mood swings have intensified due to the lack of special educational needs teachers.”
However, Danielle also claims that her local authority, Bracknell Forest Council, has said mainstream schools should be able to accommodate Rudy.
She said: “While these discussions continue, my son has not been educated for over a year.”
Danielle added that many other parents are in the same situation as her.
She said: ‘My daughter has mental health problems and also has an EHCP plan.
“Without even knowing us, her schools rejected her because she might have ADHD or autism and say they can’t stand it, even though she is a wonderful, well-behaved girl with a real talent for acting and dancing.”
Danielle questioned where school funding for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) goes.
Danielle claimed her son (pictured) would be excluded for “silly reasons” such as walking in wearing his trainers instead of his school shoes.
Delilah is due to start year seven in September, but some senior schools have refused to accept her, saying they cannot meet her needs.
She said: ‘No education or support. I am completely disgusted. Having asked around, turning to charities for support and watching other mothers on TikTok. I can see it being a problem across the UK and in my local council.
“There are thousands of children in the same situation who wander the streets because the school does not accept them and does not bother to help them.”
Danielle said: “Delilah is currently in primary school, however she was supposed to get her place at secondary school last week along with all the other children who got theirs, and hers was rejected and she has been denied a couple of schools, so I don’t have a college to move to.
‘It’s been really upsetting for Delilah as all her friends have places at school apart from her.
‘Delilah’s primary school is baffled by the way the senior schools are behaving. She is such a lovely girl and you don’t even know her, she is an amazing dancer and actress, she is heartbreaking.
Danielle revealed that trying to find a place for her children’s educational needs has become a full-time job.
Danielle claims her son Rudy (right) was excluded 21 times from Brakenhale School, while her daughter Delilah (left) is struggling to get a place at secondary school.
Danielle told MailOnline that trying to find a school for her children’s educational needs has become a full-time job.
She said: ‘The council continues to fight for my children’s place at school. The city council and the ordinary schools are arguing among themselves, while I have a son without school and my daughter goes to high school without a place.’
‘Schools simply don’t have the staff to deal with any child who is a little different, whether it’s autism, ADHD or mental health problems.
“I constantly feel like it’s a full-time job, making phone calls and sending emails all day and getting nowhere.”
James Sunderland, Conservative MP for Bracknell, said: “I’m sorry to hear about Rudy and Delilah. I have met and advised a number of local families on SEND issues but I have not met the Freemasons.
‘I would recommend that you contact my office. It is noteworthy that the provision of education for students with an EHCP is a needs-based service for which Bracknell Forest Council has local responsibility and for which the Government has provided significant additional funding.
“I also continue to support the council in its push for dedicated funding for safety valves and am pushing hard for more SEND schools in the borough, of which one in Crowthorne has already been approved.”
Mail Online has contacted Bracknell Forest Council and The Brakenhale School for comment.