Alex is thriving after class win

Oct 9 2006 By Tony Collins, Birmingham Mail

A SPECIAL needs boy who won a landmark victory against Birmingham City Council over where he should be taught is continuing to thrive.

Alex Marshall, now aged 11, has spent the last few years at the National Institute of Conductive Education in Moseley, which specialises in people with conditions such as Parkinson's Disease.

The council refused to fund his education and treatment after insisting his cerebral palsy could best be dealt with at a local authority-run special school.

The authority threatened the Sutton Coldfield family with legal action but, after two independent special needs tribunals, the city was forced to pay for Alex's full treatment at the institute.

Alex has now left the pioneering centre on the edge of Cannon Hill Park and settled into council-run Wilson Stuart special school, in Erdington.

His father Les said: "He only started there last month but he is really happy. He is still unable to walk because of his condition, but he is trying to get his hands going."

Mr Marshall said that he had originally looked at the school when Alex was just two but did not think it appropriate for his needs.

"The school is now perfect. The staff are also really dedicated. They are lovely people," he said.

The city council eventually agreed to fund Alex's education at the conductive education institute until he reached the age of 11.

Mr Marshall complained at the time of the tribunal victories: "The city council doesn't look at this as a health problem, they just think it's private education."

* Have your say on this story at www.birminghammail.net/news/yoursay