A struggling Leeds mum has spoken out about how lockdown has robbed her special needs son of the routine and support he desperately needs.
Mum-of-three Kay-Lee says her other two children are also at risk from their older brother's meltdowns - and says parents who are also carers have been abandoned with schools closed.
As part of Children's Mental Health week, Kay-Lee from Belle Isle wants to highlight the devastating impact the coronavirus pandemic is having upon children and young people.
Kay-Lee has three children, Harvey, 16, who usually attends a special needs school, Joshua, 13, who is at a mainstream secondary school and Izabelle, 8, who is at a mainstream primary school.
Vulnerable children including special needs pupils are currently allowed to attend school, alongside key worker children, under government guidance.
However, although Harvey has additional needs and is visually impaired, he has been classed as clinically extremely vulnerable and advised to shield by his GP, meaning he cannot attend school.
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His mum who is also his full-time carer, explains that the lack of routine and structure is detrimental to Harvey's mental health and wellbeing and he is struggling without school.
She also said her younger two children can be at risk from their brother's meltdowns.
Kay-Lee said: "Harvey has the mental age of an eight-year-old, he has a condition called pica, which means he puts everything into his mouth even things that are not edible, so obviously the risk of contracting coronavirus is higher.
"Because of this he is classed as clinically vulnerable and cannot attend school, routine and structure are absolutely paramount to Harvey, without that he is really struggling.
"It's been hard having all three children at home because of course, they are all competing for attention and all bored.
"I felt so guilty but last week I had to phone Izabelle and Joshua's school and beg them to let them go in. Technically we shouldn't because of Harvey but I had to admit we were struggling and I needed help.
"It was the only option I had left, I feel as though parents who are carers have been forgotten about, there's no relief, no respite. It feels as though we have fallen through the net.
"Parents' mental health is taking a beating too, we are expected to be a teacher, a parent, a carer, a chef, a bank account - it's too much.
"The child's mental health has to be paramount so the parent suffers.
"Harvey was walking around with his shoulders slumped, it's really affected him, he needs the routine."
Kay-Lee added: "We have had to get out for remote walks at times because the same four walls are literally driving him insane, I know technically we are not supposed to but at some point, you have to assess what is most important and sometimes mental health has to come first.
"I don't want to let education slide for Harvey but the needs are totally different for each child.
"His school have been great, he is doing some Zoom lessons which does help because he gets to see his friends and socialise, even if only virtually.
"The other two have struggled too, it's boredom for them, it's hard to keep them engaged and in a routine.
"I started doing a packed lunch for each of them every night for lunches just to keep some form of normality and structure.
"I'm lucky that the other two children can see how hard it is for Harvey and they sympathise.
"Harvey's school are doing a project 'what makes you happy' this week in aid of Children's Mental Health Week."
The mum of three urges other parents not to pressure themselves: "Mental health is more important."
