A MOTHER of three says she has lost “all trust” in a Wrexham school claiming it is failing to meet her disabled daughter’s needs.

Tracey Samuel, 48, of Rhosnesni, said her daughter Alexis (Lexi), 11, had spent more time at home than she had at St Christopher’s school, since starting there in September.

Ms Samuel, who has two other children, including 17-year-old David, who has been a pupil at the school for several years, said her daughter’s specific needs mean she needs constant one-on-one support.

A Statement of Educational Needs, that is made between the local authority and Lexi - states that her “access to learning will be supported by teaching assistants”.

However, Ms Samuel says that Lexi has always had one-to-one support in the past, because of the complications surrounding her disability.

She said: “Lexi was diagnosed with dysphagia (a condition that results in her having swallowing difficulties) when she was one.

“It’s been a long road getting her to eat the right foods and ensuring when she does, the food she’s eating doesn’t go down the wrong way, into her lungs. She needs to be encouraged to eat and also to take a drink when she does to ensure the food clears properly and she doesn’t choke.”

The Leader:

Tracey Samuel says the local authority promises her daughter one to one help in school

Lexi, who also has cerebral palsy, as well as being mute and visually impaired, requires somebody with her at all times, so was kept away from school, with Ms Samuel demanding a meeting about what was happening.

Following that meeting and being assured she would be given the one-to-one attention she required, Ms Samuel said it was only when Lexi’s disability social worker visited the school that she found out care was being given to up to three children at the same time and not on the terms that had been promised.

She added: “They told the disability social worker that I could appeal, but I don’t really know what I should be appealing against. The only thing I need is a TA for my daughter.

“Someone she knows she can trust and someone I know I can trust. It’s paramount she has someone she can trust.”

Ms Samuel said that at a meeting held at the school last Tuesday, a plan was put in place so that Lexi would be given the appropriate level of one-to-one care at specific moments during the day, including at break and lunch times, due to her problems eating. However, by the end of the week, Ms Samuel got a call from her son David, who was in the dinner queue at the school canteen, telling her Lexi had been left on her own.

She said: “He’d gone to get his dinner and became concerned, because he knows what affect it can have on her.

“I just don’t trust them anymore. They’re not safeguarding my child. The only way I can ensure Lexi is safe and well is having her at home with me at this moment in time, which isn’t an ideal situation.”

A further meeting was held this week and plans have been made for Lexi to return to school on an initial part-time basis, with further discussions to take place between the school and local education authority about providing her with the one-to-one support her needs require.

Margaret Davies, headteacher of St Christopher’s said: “Whilst we dispute what Ms Samuel’s is alleging we do not feel it is appropriate to comment any further.

“As a school the health and welfare of our pupils is paramount and we would not compromise or reduce our high standards in any way that would interfere with that.”