Dunfermline: Mum says Fife schooling system doesn't meet needs

That's the journey Nicole Settle says her three-year-old, Freddie, will embark on next year when he begins primary one.

The Press reported in January that the toddler had been reading since he was just one-year-old and had inspired his mum to launch a support group for other children and parents in similar situations.

Nicole says that funding and issues with the current system mean that her son won't be given one-to-one support during class and that she has even considered removing him from education if she doesn't feel his needs are being met.

And Freddie is not the only one facing difficulties - she claims almost every other mum or dad who attends her weekly group sessions has had an issue with their child's schooling.

Nicole told the Press: "The system is not made to support children with additional needs.

"They are expected to go in and fail. The staff are amazing, but it's all about funding, in nursery years there is no one-to-one support because of funding.

"Mainstream school doesn't have the facilities, you can apply to a board who will decide if a child will get funding, Calaiswood School, for example, don't get to decide who attends."

Freddie's family - Freddie, dad Gary, mum Nicole, and sisters Maisie and Elsie. (Image: Family photo)

Nicole would like to see Freddie join his older sisters, Maisie and Elsie, at St Margaret's Primary, which she says has been "amazing", but says he wouldn't be able to thrive without the additional support she knows he will need.

"I shouldn't have to battle for the welfare and education of my child," she said.

"If we're putting a child into mainstream school we have to list everything they can't do, it's all negative.

"Additional support schools see the positives, mainstream doesn't have the flexibility. If a teacher has 30 students, it is impossible for that teacher to care for that one child."

Nicole says she and Freddie's dad, Gary, have already been told that their son doesn't meet the criteria for additional support and understand that Freddie would need to fail before he is considered.

He hasn't been officially diagnosed with autism - he's one of more than 1000 children on a waiting list in Fife according to figures released last year - but his paediatrician agrees with his parents that he has the condition.

READ MORE: Dunfermline mum launches My World Matters group for son

Nicole says they could pay for a private assessment, but that this wouldn't be accepted by Fife Council and would therefore not qualify him for additional education support.

"There's no equality for children in Fife, that's a fact," Nicole added.

"Schools say they're inclusive and want the best for the children but the system is not what it needs to be and they have no idea what it's like to be the parent of a child with additional needs.

"Every single member of staff has been so helpful but their hands are tied - they would love to do more but it's not their decision or responsibility."

Now the family faces an impossible decision - with help from the Children with Support Needs in Pre-school (CSNIPs) charity Freddie could receive a funded place in a private nursery for children with additional needs, but this would mean time away from his peer group, and could result in a regression in progress when he does eventually move to mainstream school where he won't receive the same levels of support.

"We have to make a decision for him to have one-to-one and have a brilliant year or set him up for failure so he'll get support for the rest of his life," explained Nicole, who gave up a job she loved to stay home with her son.

"Or we take him out of education completely if he's not getting the support. Freddie has to come first and his happiness comes before his education or me getting the time on my own.

"It's the saddest thing, some mums can't afford not to work, some children who are autistic would just sit there, people say they need the social aspect but Freddie doesn't play with other children.

"Our children have the same rights as any other child and it's their world too.

"I would go right to the top, I'll take it as it comes - I'll fight for every child whose mum can't fight.

"It's not about changing the world, I'm just a mum, but if you see one person doing it you think, 'so can I'."

Deborah Davidson, Fife Council education manager, said: "Our aim is always for a child or young person to attend their local catchment school and for the team around the child to determine the type of support that is required to do this where possible.

"If it is felt a child requires access to specialist provision or support from other services, schools and nurseries would ensure that through a robust assessment process, with input from educational psychology and other specialist services as appropriate, this is considered.

"We're not able to comment on individual cases, but the needs of each child are at the heart of the decisions we make for them and the support they receive."