A couple say their son's education is suffering because he cannot get a place at a special needs school.

Gerald Cox, and his partner, Karen Bigvand, both 40, said their son, Shane Cherril, six, was not getting the education he needed from his current school, Rose Hill First School, Oxford, and needed a place at Iffley Mead Special School.

But Iffley Mead School has no spare places until next September and Shane's parents said that during the delay his education is being affected.

Karen, of Oxford Road, Littlemore, said: "Rose Hill First School say they cannot cope with Shane because he is disruptive, and they are only keeping him in school for half a day.

"We don't want that because Shane needs a full-time education."

She added: "We are under a lot of stress because we are dealing with Shane all the time. He needs a school with special needs facilities because there is not enough support for him at his school."

Mr Cox added: "We are at breaking point. We are doing what we can, but we can't do any more. Shane must have full-time special needs."

But Peter Stevenson, headteacher of Rose Hill First School, said: "We feel that Shane can make the most of his education if he attends part-time.

"If the wait for a place at Iffley Mead is some months, that is a frustration, but it is not the case that we do not want him, he simply finds it hard coping with a full day.

"They are right that Shane would be much better suited to a special school like Iffley Mead and I have supported them in their application.

"But our decision to only have him in school for half a day is supported by the education authority."

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