Complaint

This Office received a complaint from a mother who raised concerns that her son’s application for Home Tuition was refused by the Department of Education and Skills (DES). This young person, aged 14, was diagnosed with a rare disorder. As a result of which he suffers from severe epileptic seizures, severe developmental problems and autistic spectrum presentation. In addition, the young person has poor communication skills and requires a lot of care as he is not toilet trained. The parent advised that her son’s seizures had become more severe and frequent in recent years. The parents withdrew their son from his most recent school due to difficulties the school had encountered regarding their son’s behaviour as a result of his condition. At the time of the complaint to this Office the young person did not have an educational placement.

Examination

This Office wrote to the DES to highlight concerns raised and to request their understanding in relation to this complaint. In this instance the DES refused the Home Tuition Grant under the medical category because the criteria stated ‘that he needed to be currently enrolled and attending a school in order to apply under this category’. However, the parent was of the view that it was not appropriate for her son to attend a school as his condition had deteriorated and a school environment was not suitable for him at that time. There was supporting correspondence from medical professionals in support of the young person Home Tuition application.

Outcome

As a result of this Office’s intervention the DES advised that they have reviewed the issue of eligibility criteria applicable to applicants for home tuition on medical grounds. If parents of applicant children can satisfy the DES that the child would be enrolled in a recognised school were it not for their medical condition, then it will not be essential that the child is on the roll of the school.

The DES contacted the parent with a view to considering any further applications of home tuition under the medical category of the scheme. As part of this the DES advised OCO that they may also consider the provision of retrospective funding for home tuition under the medical category

Posted in: Investigations Education