THE parents of a Greendown School pupil feel their son is one of the victims of Swindon Council's failed Ofsted inspection.

Leon Adams, 13, was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) four years ago.

He has been suspended twice from Greendown School because it cannot cope with his erratic and sometimes violent behaviour.

Now he is allowed to attend the school only three mornings a week, and spends two days at Stratton Education Centre, which is designed to cater for disruptive pupils.

But his parents Pauline and Lee are worried that one more false move may lead him to being expelled for good.

They do not blame the school, but say the local education authority should provide funding so that Greendown School, in Grange Park, can appoint an educational support assistant (ESA) to help Leon manage his disorder.

Mrs Adams said: "The school hasn't got enough money to help him and this matter has gone right to the top of the LEA but nothing has changed.

"I have two normal children and we are a caring family, but we have met with a brick wall every time we have tried to get help for Leon.

"The LEA has basically failed my son, like so many others. It pushes you from one person to another and you feel like you are always going around in circles."

Mrs Adams claims she has been told that even if Leon is allocated an official statement by the LEA recognising his special needs, it does not guarantee extra funding.

She continued: "He really needs ESA support in the classroom I don't think that's too much to ask for. Time is running out for him because he's only got to do one thing and he'll get kicked out of Greendown.

"The school hasn't got the time or resources to spend on him. But when he was expelled last time, we found there was nowhere else for him to go.

"It's no good the council apologising for failing its inspection how long is it going to take to put things right? If they don't put the money in now, it's going to be too late for Leon.

"I would challenge Estelle Morris Government Education Secretary to come to Swindon and see what is happening to real people because it's a disgrace. It's awful that you have to fight for your kids like this."

The council's Ofsted report was unveiled last week, revealing a catalogue of weaknesses, including the provision for special educational needs.

Underlying the failure is the fact that the council is the worst-funded unitary authority in the country for education.

Steve O'Sullivan, Greendown headteacher, said this meant the LEA was forced to make difficult decisions in cases like Leon's.

He said: "We did put Leon's case to the LEA, but to fund every child with special needs adequately would require almost a bottomless pit of money.

"We appreciate that officers have to make very difficult decisions and if Swindon was funded at least at the average then it would make a huge difference in cases like these."

Anita Wade, group manager for inclusion at the LEA, could not comment specifically on Leon's case, but added: "We do offer youngsters with ADHD provision at Stratton Education Centre, and parents can apply for a statement for their child.

"We then look at the needs of the child and make a decision within 18 weeks of the statement being issued, which could result in more funding being made available. We would all agree that schools never have enough resources but resources are made available.