The mother of a boy with autism has defended what she calls an ‘excellent’ school in Bracknell after it was accused of poor treatment of children recently.

St Michael’s Easthampstead Church of England Primary School has faced criticism after an autistic boy was repeatedly excluded from the school and was seemingly left without a school place this academic year.

The mum of the boy expressed anger at the situation.

However, the school’s record for caring for children on the autistic spectrum has been praised by a fellow parent who’s son attended the school throughout his primary education.

READ MORE: Bracknell mum slams school for treatment of her autistic son

The parent, Marie Varela, said: “My son, diagnosed with ASD, ADHD and Conduct Disorder attended St Michaels for the duration of his primary years.

“The small setting allowed him to operate in mainstream and the school, in particular Gary Saunders, Wendy Kinsey, and Stef Beamish were instrumental in the facilitation of our son’s acceptance to a specialist secondary unit.

“The school makes a convenient scapegoat for lengthy NHS wait lists and the local policy of the Local Authority vs their legal requirement.

“Simply put, our son was supported in the best way possible by teachers who saw his potential through his diagnosis.

“They supported every attempt and application for his unit place, his Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) the additional provisions of his SAT’s and the transport requirements that Bracknell Forest Council failed to provide him resulting in an upheld case to the Local Government Social Care Ombusdman (LGSCO), much of the support out of hours and in their own time. The school were outstanding.”

St Michael’s has a ‘Good’ rating from OFSTED.

READ MORE: Mum raises issues in Bracknell council's childcare department after £250 payout

Responding to praise of the school,  Gary Saunders, deputy headteacher of St Michael’s Easthampstead said: “It is always pleasing to hear praise for what we do here at St Michael’s.

“We continually strive to provide the best environment in which children can thrive in their own ways.

“We work in partnership with parents and carers, supporting them with their needs, to ensure when they move on from us, they are ready for the next phase of their educational life.

“It is heartening to know this family really appreciate all we did with them and their child during their time with us and we thank them for their kind words.”

Marie Varela won her case with the LGSO in 2019, when Bracknell Forest Council was found to have not properly considered his disability when determining whether he was eligible for free school transport.

Following the complaint, Bracknell Forest Council agreed to provide transport for her son, apologise, pay £500 in compensation, review its school transport policy and arrange training for staff and panellists.

Her son is now at a secondary school.