New start for primary school pupil

The boy has had a number of temporary exclusions

A six-year-old boy from North Tyneside who had been excluded from three schools by the age of five old is to be sent to a special school in Cumbria.

Teachers of Daniel Cowens from Killingworth say he has thrown tantrums of such ferocity that they could not contain him.

They say he punched, kicked, and spat, and on more than one occasion left staff with cuts or bruises.

From September, the council will send him 150 miles to a residential special school in Cumbria.

His mother Sharon, of Coniston Close, Killingworth, says he has spent more time out of school than in class, and accuses North Tyneside Council of failing to provide an adequate education for him.

She also says teachers have over-reacted to his behaviour.

'Quite costly'

But the local authority says it has done all it could and that his new school is appropriate to meet his needs.

The fees there can cost up to £94,000 a year for individual cases.

A spokesman for the council said: "Despite the seriousness of the problems, Daniel has never been permanently excluded from any school, although there have been a number of temporary exclusions.

"We have worked hard to meet his needs within North Tyneside in a variety of settings, and supplied extra teaching support.

"We are confident Daniel can make progress but we need to ensure that it is made in an environment which is safe for him and everyone else.

"The provision we have now identified is quite costly but the important thing is that it will be appropriate to his needs."