Girl with autism, 11, still waiting to start school in Stoke-on-Trent

A year seven pupil with autism is still waiting to start secondary school this term - because the council has not allocated her a place.

Sophie Swandle, 11, is one of 38 year seven children still without a place at a Stoke-on-Trent secondary school.The former New Ford Academy pupil was given a place at Haywood Academy, in Burslem, for the 2023/24 academic year.

But mum Janice Swandle and Sophie relocated 6.5 miles from Smallthorne to Meir this summer - and Stoke-on-Trent City Council was told she would need a new school place back in April.

Janice, 42, wants Sophie, who is autistic, to go to ‘any school that she can walk to' as she works full time and doesn't drive.

She says Sophie's autism means she couldn't catch the two buses needed to get to Haywood Academy. Janice, aged 42, said: “I gave the council six months' notice. It’s so frustrating. She should be mixing with the other children but instead she’s sat at home on her laptop.“She’s going to be falling behind on subjects and she finds it hard to make friendship groups as it is. I haven’t even bought her school uniform yet because I don’t know which school she’ll be going to.“I don’t mind which school, just one where she can walk there and back herself. She wouldn’t have been able to take the place at Haywood Academy. It would take her two buses and she wouldn’t manage it on her own. Because of her autism, she’s not as developed as a normal 11-year-old. She’s not as streetwise.”

She added: “If I took my daughter out of school, I’d be fined. I’d be penalised for that. School admissions are saying there’s nothing they can do. When I found out there were so many other kids waiting, that’s what angered me the most. I think it’s disgusting that kids are missing out. They should be getting an education that every child is entitled to.”The council has not commented on Sophie's case, however it has addressed the wider issue.A council spokesman said: “We had a number of young people apply for places outside the normal window and we currently have 38 pupils who we are in the process of being allocated year seven secondary school places. The majority of these cases are new to the area and the remainder are late or recent applications. The city council is proactively working with local schools to best match these pupils as soon as they can.”