A Suffolk mother whose autistic child has not yet been assigned a post-16 education placement for this year has said she is struggling to cope and is worried for their education. 

The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, said she was told her child, who has autism and learning difficulties, could stay on as a pupil at The Bridge School in Ipswich, where they finished their secondary education last year, but this was never officially confirmed and eventually refused.

Now, several days after students went back to schools and sixth forms in the county, they are still without a post-16 placement.

While Suffolk County Council is actively seeking a new setting and having conversations with multiple education providers in order to find the best provision for the child, the mother said she has been left feeling stressed and worried about her 16-year-old missing out on education. 

She said: "The bottom line is, are you expecting my son to stay at home with me 24/7 for the forseeable future?

"I am struggling with this, because I am an older parent and my son is 16 coming up to 17, and he is a large boy so it isn't easy for me. 

"I really don't know where to turn at the minute. I am just waiting on them to come back to me. There is nothing more I can do.

"I don't have any respite from my son. If he is not in school, he is with me. I am also worried for his post-16 education, because he should be getting that and now he isn't."

A spokesperson for Unity Schools Partnership, of which The Bridge School is a member, said: "The Bridge School currently provides for children aged four to 16 years old.

"We are in discussion with the local authority about developing the school’s capacity to provide for children, aged 16 to 18 years old, and we are confident that in the coming years this will happen. We are sorry that this is not yet the case."

Suffolk County Council continues to look for a suitable place for the child, a spokesman for the authority said.