Copyright inverness-courier
For 10-year-old Cole Steell, getting a place at Drummond School was a “dream come true” compared to what he had before. For the first time Cole, who has non-verbal autism and will need 24/7 support for the rest of his life, had consistent access to 1-1 or 1-2 support and received music therapy and swimming opportunities each week at the school that offers support for pupils with a range of additional support needs. As we have reported previously, parents are now concerned that tandards at the school are slipping in the face of a range of cutbacks by Highland Council. It was in June last year, Cole’s mum Kirsty says, that she noticed things beginning to change at the school, which had previously been a nurturing and positive environment for Cole. She said: “When Cole first went to Drummond, I was so happy with the teacher and the amount of PSAs (pupil support assistants) was like a dream. It wasn’t perfect, but it was so much more than he had before. “All the therapies did him good and he improved that year and came on so fast. It felt safe, supportive and just a lovely environment. The staff at Drummond are amazing, they are just the best. “For us, it felt like a community and everyone was in the same boat with their children. It was a ‘Drummond family’, and it felt like we were being listened to and the things we needed for our child were there. “The issues started for me last year, in June 2024, when we got emails saying the classes and teachers had to be changed around as pupil support assistants and staff numbers had been cut.” When Cole returned to school after summer last year, she said, it was to endure a “horrendous few months” in the face of those cuts. “There was no longer consistent 1-2 or 1-1 support,” Kirsty said. “There was no swimming. “His music and art teacher had to be used as principal teachers as they didn’t have teaching staff, so he lost those therapies, which were beneficial. “Cole didn’t get proper times to toilet and the staff that were there were holding down the fort due to the lack of staff.” Kirsty had legal documentation put in place - to ensure Cole’s needs were being met, and providing her with recourse if they weren’t. “Cole is 18 months (old) mentally, and there were not enough staff for toileting breaks,” she said. “You can’t leave children there if there is no one to look after them.” Problems have continued this term, she said, with art and music rooms being used for complex children with intense medical needs, meaning the subjects are no longer available as part of pupils’ regular curriculum. Classes are also being cancelled due to low staff numbers, and just this month, Cole’s class was cancelled minutes before he left for school, when he was all dressed and ready to go. Kirsty said: “I was informed only four minutes before the taxi was due that Cole’s class was closed. Families should receive such notifications the evening before, not at the last minute, leaving no time to prepare. “As a result, Cole left angry, distressed, and confused, having to be taken back inside in his uniform. The whole day was horrendous. When Cole has a bad day, we all have a bad day.” For Kirsty, the staff who are there are incredible, but there needs to be many more of them. Like other parents, she is challenging Highland Council to step up. “If the council doesn’t do something soon, we will lose staff who are not there for the money,” she said. “If the classroom is understaffed, they can’t do their job properly and are at risk of burnout. “Cole is only thriving the way he is because he has dedicated staff. Other children are regressing as they don’t have consistency from other teachers.” Highland Council said earlier this year it would be sending more teachers and PSAs to the school, in light of the issues raised. However, many do not have adequate training for the needs of the pupils at Drummond. Kirsty said: “Some days I don’t recognise 40 to 50 per cent of the staff who are there “Sometimes now in the morning you are not sure who you are handing child over to. “I am handing over an extremely vulnerable child to someone who doesn’t know his needs.” She continued: “I don’t trust the Highland Council. The cuts to staffing, despite the rising numbers of pupils and the complexity of their needs. “These pupils need somewhere to go and Highland Council’s responses to parents have been dismissive. They don’t acknowledge our lived experience. “I do feel like they are failing the most vulnerable children in society. “Our children deserve a safe education and childhood.” Highland Council said previously that additional PSAs have been recruited, though Disclosure Scotland clearance is required before they can take up their positions. “Parents and carers have been kept informed and have been told that if classes do have to close, every effort will be made to ensure it will be on a rotational basis, so it is not the same classes that are being affected,” they added. Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.
