A MUM is locked into a second legal battle with Trafford Council for ‘failing’ her special needs son.

Lorcan Dillon, 11, from Davyhulme, suffers from Asperger’s syndrome, selective mutism, generalised anxiety disorder and motor dyspraxia, which means it is difficult for him to communicate and express emotions in certain situations.

But mum Jayne Dillon, 48, said the council has failed to offer him the help and support he needs when he starts North Cestrian Grammar School in Altrincham September.

“Unfortunately, Trafford Council has since dismissed the evidence which sets out Lorcan’s special needs and the transition has been far from smooth,” said Jayne.

Lorcan won over the nation's hearts aged seven when his pet Jessi-Cat was crowned National Cat of the Year at Cats Protection's prestigious National Cat Awards.

Lorcan would clam up around strangers but his life was transformed when the family got the pet cat.

Jessi-Cat helped Lorcan come out of his shell, find his voice, and say “I love you” for the first time.  His story was so inspiring Jayne wrote a book "Jessi-cat: The Cat that Unlocked a Boys Heart".

Aged eight, Lorcan was diagnosed with autism and his parents battled with Trafford Council to secure funding for specialist support in school. He finally received a Special Educational Needs (SEN) Statement last summer.

Fast forward three years and Jayne is still fighting for Lorcan’s needs to recognised.

Lorcan, who is currently being taught by a Home Tutor because of his escalating anxiety, needed an Education Health & Care plan (EHC) plan before starting secondary school.

After sending back detailed response on a ‘trivial’ draft plan and instructing lawyers to seek the final plan after the council missed their statutory deadline, Jayne finally received the document – but said her concerns and advice from experts had been ‘completely ignored’.

“It was as if the support outlined in Lorcan’s SEN statement had been stolen from him,” said Jayne.

“I have a huge amount of evidence, including statements from speech therapists and teachers, detailing exactly the sort of support and safeguarding Lorcan needs. I don’t understand what else we need to provide before the council takes notice. The council should save the money it is spending on legal advice and spend it on the children.”

Jayne said she was told she would have to transport Lorcan to and from school, no additional support would be provided for him and safeguarding issues for a child-like Lorcan, who can’t ask for help, have not been addressed.

“Although North Cestrian Grammar School has experience with children like Lorcan, he won’t last a day without full support,” said Jayne.

“The EHC plan is supposed to be a detailed document but Trafford Council has instead been completely vague in describing the support Lorcan will be given. Phrases like ‘having access to key workers’ really don’t mean anything.”

Jayne said that no information was sought from the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, which has helped Lorcan with his anxiety, when compiling the plan. She also said that reports from an independent Educational Psychologist and Occupational Therapist were not considered.

“I am fighting for my son’s future,” she added. “This is an unnecessary battle yet Trafford Council seems to have an appetite for meeting parents in the tribunal. I worry for the many parents who can’t face the exhausting process it is to go through the appeal process. I hope that perhaps our story will encourage them to stick up for what their children are entitled to.”

Lorcan’s family has been told their appeal will be heard on November 3, two months after Lorcan is due to start secondary school.

Solicitor Imogen Jolley, head of education at Simpson Millar, is representing Lorcan.

She said: “What Jayne has had to go through to get her son the support he is legally entitled to is completely unacceptable. Time and time again Trafford Council has failed to listen and take on board the concerns of a mother who is acutely aware of her son’s special educational needs.

"None of what Jayne is asking for is unreasonable or without professional merit. I am confident that the family’s appeal will be successful, but I am sad that they have had to take such drastic action.”

Trafford Council said it does not discuss individual cases regarding pupils with education, health and care plans, although it ‘will work with parents, children and young people to ensure the plans are appropriate for the child’s needs and deal with any safeguarding concerns’.

A spokesperson said: “The vast majority of education, health and care plans are agreed but in a small number of cases parents do not agree with the council. Parents have the right to challenge the council’s decision and there is support for parents through mediation and an appeals process.”

Local Education Authorities are legally obliged to produce and deliver final Education Health & Care plans for children with special educational needs transitioning from primary to secondary school by February 15.

Government figures show that Trafford only managed to complete 25 per cent of its EHCPs within the statutory 20-week deadline this year, falling well below the national average of 59 per cent and regional average of 58 per cent.

Trafford Labour Party challenged the council’s poor performance at Trafford Town Council meeting last night.

A full report of this challenge will be published on our website later today.