Jessie Wallace’s sister Danielle Mason claims her autistic son, 12, has not been to class for more than a year because ‘no mainstream school will accept him’

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.