A furious mum whose daughter has Downs Syndrome and hasn't been able to attend school for more than a month claims she was asked if she'd consider home schooling her.
Brenda Cook, 51, from Skelmorlie, was shocked to discover that Brooke Cormack-Cook, 12, would not be allowed to return to school after being diagnosed with type one diabetes.
She started the term at Stanecastle Additional Special Needs School in Irvine in August, but fell ill after just nine days.
When doctors diagnosed her diabetes, Brooke took a few days to recover and was cleared to return to school on September 9.
Staff were given training on how to assist a child with diabetes but Brenda says she was told staff shortages meant there weren't enough personnel to deal with Brooke's needs.
Brooke requires a staff member to help her with one injection during the school day and also to check her blood.
Brenda was also informed that the taxi company contracted to drive Brooke the 25-mile journey to school each day, accompanied by a chaperone, would no longer be able to take her as their insurance did not cover them to deal with a medical emergency.
On September 16, Brenda attended a meeting at the school, run by North Ayrshire Council, where the home schooling suggestion was made.
Brenda said: "I'm a single parent who works as a college lecturer and run my own small business.
"I couldn't home school Brooke even if I wanted to as I need to provide for my family."
Brenda feels Brooke is being denied her education due to a manageable health condition and that a mainstream pupil would not be facing these problems.
She said: "I have spoken to other parents whose kids are type one diabetic and they haven't had any problems with them going to school.
"Any child of that age needs support when they are newly diagnosed.
"The diabetes team in Glasgow said that they would like her to get back into a routine as soon as possible and get back to school quickly."
Brenda was particularly surprised by the council's attitude to Brooke's diabetes as she thought they should have made sure a school for children with special needs would be able to cope.
She said: "It's a special needs school where children have additional support needs including medical requirements.
"Why don't the council have procedures in place to transport children if they have a medical requirement?"
Brenda also claims to have been further frustrated by North Ayrshire Council's refusal to consider placing Brooke into a special needs school in neighbouring Inverclyde, which is actually closer to where they live in Skermorlie.
She said: "North Ayrshire has categorically said no and that they won't fund sending her to a school in any other area.
"They said they have provision for her here. But they don't have provision."
A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “We are sorry for the delay and are confident the issues will be resolved very soon.
“We have been actively pursuing a trained escort to travel with Brooke and we are close now to finalising this arrangement.
“We will be redeploying someone at the school to help meet Brooke’s situation.
“We are all looking forward to welcoming her back at school.”
