Autistic boy 'bullied at school'

Jarom has been taught at home by his mother since June

The parents of an autistic 12-year-old boy say they are frightened to send him back to a school where he was bullied.

Clare and James Dixon say they have been threatened with legal action by Medway Council if their son does not return to the Hundred of Hoo school.

Mrs Dixon said their son, Jarom McCormack, was off school for two days with concussion after one incident.

The school said it took bullying extremely seriously but had not found any evidence that he was being bullied.

The Dixons withdrew Jarom from the Hundred of Hoo school in June and taught him at home.

They do not want to send him back for the autumn term.

The Hundred of Hoo has a unit for children with special needs such as Jarom's, but it is over-subscribed and he was placed in the main school.

"I have lost all confidence in the school," said Mrs Dixon.

"Jarom has got so upset that he has started self-harming.

"What I ultimately want is for him to be put into a special needs school that can look after him properly."

A spokesman for the school said Jarom was in a class of 12 with a teacher and two assistants and it was up to Medway Council to decide whether he could be placed in the special unit.

Medway Council said in a statement: "The school and education officers at the council are working with the family.

"A meeting has been scheduled for next week to discuss options."