Actress and TV presenter Danielle Mason claims her 12-year-old son, who has autism, has not been to school for more than a year due to a lack of funding for his special educational needs – and says ‘he will never go back’ because his trust has been so seriously damaged’.

Mason, 41, who lives in Bracknell, says her son Rudy, who should be in year eight, has been refused a place at numerous schools in Berkshire after being excluded 21 times from his last school, Brakenhale School.

Danielle, sister of EastEnders star Jessie Wallace, is mum to Rudy and Delilah, 10, who she shares with her ex-partner Tony Giles.

Speaking to MailOnline, mother-of-two claims schools ‘can’t cope’ with her son’s EHCP [Education, Health and Care Plan] due to a ‘lack of government funding’ – and that this week he was given homework for the first time in a year.

She says her daughter Delilah, who also has an EHCP for mental health problems, is currently in year six of primary school and has also failed to get a place at several secondary schools.

Danielle said: “My son, who has been diagnosed as autistic, went from primary school to secondary school without any problems. He was excluded 21 times until the school agreed he would have an assisted move.”

A managed move is a behavioral strategy for children who are at risk of permanent exclusion when other approaches to improving the child’s behavior have failed and the school believes a fresh start elsewhere could work.

The mother claimed her son would be excluded for ‘silly reasons’ such as coming in with his trainers instead of his school shoes, while on other days he would be ‘triggered’ if the school could not properly meet his needs.

She said: ‘He just sat in his bedroom without any social interaction and the school let him out for four days in a row until it got to the point where he had no education in year seven.’

Mason continued, “I was successfully transferred to another school, and they also said they didn’t have the staff there to meet his needs.

‘His EHCP plan has been successful and no mainstream school will take him because they do not have the staff to meet his needs due to a lack of funding.’

An education, health and care plan is a legal document that sets out a child’s special educational needs, the support they need and what they would like to achieve.

She added: “They don’t have the staff to meet his needs due to a lack of funding. That’s all they’re saying: they don’t have the financing.

‘They say he can go to his old school for a few hours a day, but they call me after an hour because his mood swings have increased due to the lack of SEN [Special educational needs] teachers.’

However, Danielle also claims her local authority, Bracknell Forest Council, has said mainstream schools should be able to take Rudy.

She said: ‘While these arguments are going on, my son has been out of education for over a year now.’

Danielle added that many other parents are in the same situation as her.

She said: “My daughter has mental health problems and also has an EHCP plan.

‘Without even meeting us, her schools have turned her away because she may have ADHD or autism and they say they can’t handle it, even though she is a wonderful, well-behaved girl with a real talent for acting and dancing.’

Danielle wondered where school funding for children with special educational needs and disabilities comes from [SEND] go.

She said: ‘No education or support. I am completely outraged. Ask around, go to charities for support and watch other moms on TikTok. I see it is a problem across Britain and in my community.

“There are thousands of children in the same situation wandering the streets because the school doesn’t have them and doesn’t bother to help these children.”

Danielle said: ‘Delilah is currently at primary school but she was due to get her place at secondary school last week, along with all the other children who got theirs, and hers was refused and she has been refused from a few schools , so she doesn’t. I don’t have a high school to move to.

‘It’s very upsetting for Delilah as all her friends have been given their school places next to her.

‘Delilah’s primary school is baffled by the way the secondary schools are behaving. She’s such a sweet girl and they haven’t even met her yet. She’s an amazing dancer and actress, it’s heartbreaking.

Danielle revealed that finding a place for her children’s educational needs has become something of a full-time job.

She said: “The council continues to fight for my children’s place at school. The municipality and the regular schools are arguing with each other. Meanwhile, I have one child who has no school and my daughter goes to secondary school without a place.’

‘Schools simply don’t have the staff to deal with every child who is a little different, whether it’s autism, ADHD or mental health problems.

“I constantly feel like it’s a full-time job, calling and emailing all day and not going anywhere.”

James Sunderland, Conservative MP for Bracknell, said: “I’m sorry to hear about Rudy and Delilah. I have met and advised several local families on SEND issues, but I have not met the Freemasons.

‘I would advise them to contact my office. Please note that the provision of education for students with an EHCP is a needs-based service for which Bracknell Forest Council has local responsibility and for which significant additional funding has been provided by the government.

“I also continue to support the council in its bid for targeted safety valve funding and am pushing hard for additional SEND schools in the borough, with one already approved in Crowthorne.”

Mail Online has contacted Bracknell Forest Council and Brakenhale School for comment.

ANTONIO CONTE would only agree to a return to the Premier League if he could not manage Napoli, AC Milan or Juventus.

Conte has been a free agent since March after his dramatic dismissal from Tottenham after a turbulent season at the helm.

1

The Italian tactician was sacked by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy after launching a stunning attack on his 'selfish' flops and the club's '20 years' of underperformance in a 10-minute tirade.

According to The mailthe 54-year-old has returned to Turin, where he enjoys a quiet life with his family and loved ones.

The ex-Italian manager is taking some time off to 'detox' himself after a series of clashes with club chiefs and the media.

The former midfielder is enjoying some much-needed rest after a rough season in which he also lost good friends Giampiero Ventrone, Sinisa Mihajlovic and Gianluca Vialli.

Conte is loving his time in Italy and does not want to leave his home country at the moment.

However, the ex-Inter Milan boss has not completely closed the door on a possible return of Prem.

After all, the ex-Chelsea manager enjoyed huge success at Stamford Bridge when he won the Premier League title in 2017 and the FA Cup a year later.

In fact, no one came close to leading the Blues to the Prem title after he left six years ago.

However, Conte would rather work for Napoli and Milan in Serie A.

The popular head coach would also like to play again at Juventus, where his career as a manager started thirteen years ago.

Conte wants to return to management, but also wants to stay close to Italy and his family.

Before his arrest, Hemant Soren resigned as Chief Minister of Jharkhand and submitted his resignation to Governor CP Radhakrishnan at the Raj Bhavan and was subsequently transferred to the ED office in Ranchi.

Jharkhand News: “I will not give up in vain. I will not accept defeat,” former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said late on Wednesday evening after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case.

In a post on his official

“It's a break, life is a big struggle. I fought every moment, I will fight every moment. But I won't beg for a compromise. What in defeat, what in victory, I am not afraid at all, smallness does not touch me now, you are great, keep it up. The pain of the hearts of our people. I will not give up in vain, I will not accept defeat,” read a loosely transcribed post by Soren on X after his arrest by the ED.

I think it's good
I think it's good
I think I do
I think I did well

I think I do
I think it's good
I think it's good
I think I do

I think it's good
I think it's good
I think that it…

Sure! pic.twitter.com/oduWMRGOmQ

— Hemant Soren (@HemantSorenJMM) January 31, 2024

Hemant Søren arrest

Hemant Soren, the de facto chief of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), was arrested by the ED on Wednesday evening after nearly seven hours of interrogation over money laundering in an alleged land fraud case, an official said.

Prior to his arrest, Soren resigned as chief minister of Jharkhand and submitted his resignation to Governor CP Radhakrishnan at the Raj Bhavan and was subsequently transferred to the ED office in Ranchi.

Citing sources, PTI reported that 48-year-old Soren was allegedly “evasive” in his answers during his interrogation and was therefore taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED Soren is expected to appear before a special PMLA court and the agency will seek his remand for questioning in custody, the sources said.

According to the report, the central investigation agency asked Soren 15 questions during the second round of questioning in the case. He was questioned for the first time on January 20.

The JMM leader was shown the typewritten statements he had recorded at the agency and before taking him into custody, his signature was sought on these documents. However, it is unclear whether he signed them.

What is the case against Hemant Soren?

The Enforcement Directorate – which investigates financial crimes – has charged Hemant Soren with money laundering in connection with the alleged illegal possession of certain properties, apart from his alleged links with members of the 'land mafia'.

According to the ED, the investigation is related to a “huge racket of illegal transfer of ownership of land by mafia” in Jharkhand. The agency has so far arrested 14 people in these cases, including 2011 batch IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan, who was director of the state social welfare department and deputy commissioner of Ranchi.

An employee of the Jharkhand land revenue department, Bhanu Prasad Prasad, was also arrested by the agency in the case.

The ED is probing the alleged “huge amounts of crime proceeds generated through manipulation of official documents by showing fake sellers and buyers under the guise of forged/fake documents to acquire huge plots of land worth in crores”.

Champai Soren will be next CM

After Hemant Soren's resignation, his loyalist and Jharkhand Transport Minister Champai Soren was named by the ruling party as the first candidate to take charge as the next chief minister of the state.

“Hemant Soren has resigned from the post of CM. We have the support of 47 MLAs and have proposed to form a new government. Champai Soren will be our new Prime Minister. We have not been given time to take oath…,” Jharkhand Chief Minister Alamgir Alam told reporters, according to ANI.

In the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led alliance, which also includes Congress and RJD, has 47 MLAs, including 29 from JMM, 17 from Congress and 1 from RJD.

The BJP has 25 members and the AJSU party has three MLAs. The NCP and the CPI (ML)L each have one member, with the exception of three independent members.

(With input from agencies)

Travelers forced to cancel a flight face a refund lottery as some airlines refund the full amount, while others don't give a cent back.

And because it's left up to the airline to determine its own cancellation policy, some are throwing up all sorts of obstacles to keep you from filing a claim.

For example, Wizz Air customers who want a refund into their bank account can only get this by calling the customer service number – at a cost of £1.45 per minute plus any charges charged by their telephone company.

Customers who sign up online will have their money deposited into their Wizz Air account, where it can only be spent on future flights.

It's up to each airline's discretion whether to refund you, and they all have their own rules. Some will reimburse you if you or a loved one becomes ill, while others will not.

It's always wise to get travel insurance, which can pay out if you're forced to cancel, even if the airline refuses to refund you. You must do this at the time you purchase your ticket so that you are covered if you need to cancel.

And it's worth checking your airline's rules before making a claim. Airlines don't always play fair and refund you according to their own rules – and they have significant discretion over when they choose to pay out.

Earlier this month, Money Mail consumer champion Sally Hamilton was forced to intervene after Wizz Air refused to refund a customer the £364 cost of her flight when she had to cancel following the death of her husband.

Here we look at how airline refund policies compare.

British Airways

If you cancel a flight within 24 hours of booking, you can claim a full refund without penalty. Once you are outside this window, you should contact British Airways as soon as possible.

If you want to cancel a flight due to a serious illness or the death of a family member, you will need to provide documentation such as a medical or death certificate.

British Airways says it will refund the tickets of passengers diagnosed with a terminal illness. Those who are not seriously ill but cannot fly can usually put their tickets on hold for up to a year. But if they rebook, they will have to pay the difference between the two fares and any increases in aviation taxes.

EasyJet

Passengers who cancel an easyJet flight online within 24 hours of booking will receive a full refund, minus the £49 booking fee. Cancel online if you can, as the cost increases to £55 for those who do so by calling customer service.

Passengers suffering from a serious or terminal illness must submit an online medical declaration form. Once this form has been submitted, easyJet will review the case and may offer you a refund or flight voucher, which must be used within six months.

If you are sad, easyJet will review your case and offer a refund, a free flight change or a voucher for a future flight within six months.

Jet2

All Jet2 flights are non-refundable. The airline recommends that passengers purchase travel insurance at the time of booking to cover unforeseen events that prevent them from traveling as planned.

Jet2 says there may be certain situations where it can help, but this cannot be guaranteed. You can change the name or date of your flight for a €35 administration fee, plus the price difference between your original fare and the new flight price. To make changes to your flight, visit jet2.com/login.

Ryanair

You may be able to cancel a Ryanair flight and request a refund if someone you were traveling with or an immediate family member dies. Ryanair does not consider aunts, uncles or cousins ​​as immediate family members.

Depending on the circumstances, the airline may refund the total cost of flights for everyone traveling on the booking.

You may be able to get a refund in the form of travel credit if you become seriously ill and can no longer travel. All claims are considered on a case-by-case basis and the airline does not offer refunds for common illnesses such as chickenpox or routine medical procedures, including pre-planned treatments.

To sign up, visit refundclaims.ryanair.com.

Wizz Air

If you are diagnosed with a serious illness or an incurable disease, you may be entitled to a full refund once you provide an official medical certificate.

All refunds will be paid as Wizz Air credit, so if you would like the refund deposited into your bank account you will need to call the airline's customer service department. This costs £1.45 per minute.

Holidaymakers who are ill but not in a critical condition may be entitled to a 50 percent refund if they send the airline a copy of their medical certificate.

The refund applies only to the patient and not to other passengers included in their booking.

If your child is sick, you can request a 50 percent refund for his/her ticket and yours. And if a close family member dies within 30 days of flight departure, you can request a full refund by filing a claim online.

A Wizz Air spokesperson said: 'When booking we recommend using our WIZZ Flex service if you think your plans may change in the future.'

Claim your tax back

Even if you are not entitled to a full refund, you should be able to reclaim the air tax you paid on your ticket. This charge is paid by passengers and passed on to HMRC by the airline. However, the tax is only paid when you take the flight. If you don't, you will have to get the tax back from the airline.

Airlines don't automatically reimburse this and your airline may not even tell you that you have the right to claim it. Contact your airline and tell them you want to claim yours or they will pocket the money for themselves. The amount of Air Passenger Duty you pay per flight depends on the distance you travel and the type of seat you book.

A passenger flying from Edinburgh to London Gatwick in an economy seat will pay £7 in taxes, or £14 for a premium seat, such as those with extra legroom.

For a flight of less than 3,000 miles, to destinations such as Italy, Greece or Turkey, you'll pay £13 in taxes for an economy seat or £26 for a premium seat.

For further afield hotspots like the Bahamas or Costa Rica you'll pay £88 for a standard seat, but this rises to £194 for an upgraded seat.

A flight to a destination more than 9,000 kilometers away, such as New Zealand, costs £92 in air passenger tax for an average seat, or £202 for an upgraded seat.

Anna Bowles, head of consumer policy and enforcement at the Civil Aviation Authority, says if customers have a problem with their booking or flight they should first complain to their airline.

“If they are still not satisfied with the response they receive, consumers can seek redress through the accredited alternative dispute resolution service, which will independently assess their claim,” she says. Visit aviationadr.org.uk.

While all central universities in Delhi, including Jawaharlal Nehru University and Delhi University, have adopted CUET for admission to the new academic session, JMI is likely to continue taking admission through its own entrance exam system for the majority of its courses.

CUET 2024 exam date: The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) is being introduced for admission to undergraduate/postgraduate programs in central and participating universities for the academic session 2024-2025. Admissions are handled at the Central and Participating Universities level for their respective programme. The role of NTA is limited to registration of candidates, conducting the test, hosting the answer key, inviting challenges, finalizing the answer keys, preparing and declaring results, and hosting the scorecard. The participating universities/organizations will prepare a merit list.

Assam University, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (Satellite Centre, Amethi), Banaras Hindu University, Central Sanskrit University, Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh, Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) are some of the central universities participating in the CUET PG registration process. However, mMere appearance in CUET (PG) – 2024 does not confer any right on the candidate for admission into the coveted university. The selection and admission are subject to meeting the eligibility criteria, eligibility, rank in the merit list, medical fitness, verification of original documents and other criteria as may be prescribed by the university to which the candidate is applying. Talking about participating universities, will Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), one of the prestigious central universities, accept the CUET score?

Will Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University accept CUET scores? Read details here

Jamia Millia Islamia is yet to decide whether to accept the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) scores for all its undergraduate and postgraduate courses, a senior varsity official said on Thursday, news agency PTI reported. The university would accept CUET credits for only 15 UG and 5 PG courses as the administration has not reached a conclusion to fully implement CUET, the official, who did not wish to be named, told news agency PTI. The official said that Acting Vice Chancellor Eqbal Hussain recently held a meeting with the deans of all departments to discuss the implementation of CUET for admission to the new academic session. “However, no conclusion could be drawn on the full adoption of CUET,” the official added.

While all central universities in Delhi, including Jawaharlal Nehru University and Delhi University, have adopted CUET for admission to the new academic session, JMI is likely to continue taking admission through its own entrance exam system for the majority of its courses. Last year, JMI announced partial implementation of CUET for 20 UG and PG courses, stating that the university was unable to arrange admission through CUET due to time constraints and academic constraints. The varsity had said that it plans to use CUET for all its courses from the academic year 2024-25.

With just a month to go for the CUET exams for PG admissions scheduled in March, the university is yet to register itself on the Samarth portal specifically for registration for admission to various programs in central and state universities. As per the UGC guidelines, all central universities have to admit students for both UG and PG courses on the basis of CUET marks. Jamia has a total of 42 undergraduate courses and 81 postgraduate courses, according to the official. Currently, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has started the registration process for the Common University Entrance Test – Postgraduate. The deadline for submitting the online application is January 31, 2024.

For any queries or clarifications, candidates can call the NTA Help Desk on 011 4075 9000 or write to NTA at cuet-pg@nta.ac.in. Candidates are advised to regularly visit the NTA website(s) www.nta.ac.in for the latest updates regarding the exam.