Worcestershire teenager with special educational needs "forced" to move school
Joseph Cox was told by Worcestershire County Council he would have to move
Last updated 5th Sep 2025
A teenage boy with special educational needs is being forced to move schools despite his parents saying he’s better off staying put.
Joseph Cox, who has autistic spectrum disorder and extreme anxiety, has flourished since he started attending N-Able in Worcester in October last year.
But the 15-year-old has now been told by Worcestershire County Council to attend Norton College as a full-time placement has been found for him.
N-Able is classed as ‘alternative provision’ and therefore cannot be named on a child’s education, health and care plan (EHCP).
Mum Emma O’Loughlin said she has visited Norton College twice with her son and it is “just not the right setting for Joe”.
“We pleaded and listed all the reasons why the placement wasn’t right, but more importantly my son gave his wishes and views and they have been completely ignored,” she said.
“It’s too big and he won’t engage – he’ll shut down. I know in my heart of hearts it’s not a case of ‘if’ but when it falls apart.
“All I want for him is a good education. I’m not asking for 10 GCSEs – just the basics so ideally he can get by on his own in the world.”
Joseph, from Flyford Flavell, had previously been at Gloverspiece, a small, farm-based alternative education provider, and struggled when told he wouldn’t be going back there.
“He had extreme anxiety, very low mood – he felt like nobody wanted him,” said Mrs O’Loughlin.
“In July he came home with a positive school report. We’ve seen such a change in him – he started trying to eat better, he cut his hair, which was a big thing – and we don’t want to lose that progress.
“I’ve told him he won’t be going back to N-Able. His siblings are all going back to school but he won’t be. When we get past this week I don’t know how he’ll be.”
Mrs O’Loughlin also said Joseph has pathological demand avoidance (PDA), a profile of autism, but this has not been recognised by the council.
“Lots of caseworkers don’t understand it because there is not enough out there about it,” she said.
Adam Johnston, director of children’s services at the council, said: “We fully appreciate how important it is for families to feel their child is in the right provision and making progress.
“N-Able has been a supportive interim arrangement, however as it is not a registered provider it cannot be offered as a full-time education placement that is named within an EHCP.
“We have identified an independent specialist school that is able to meet Joseph’s needs and is able to be named within his EHCP. We will continue to work closely with Joseph and his family to ensure his needs are met and his family are confident in the support he will receive.”