Most children see the odd school holiday as a rare treat. But for Jaheen, a recent day off meant business as usual: settling down to his morning episode of Sponge Bob Square Pants. Since he started school last September, he has spent more time at home than in class.

Jaheen, 5, has been excluded from two primary schools because they are unable to support his special needs. Although he has no official diagnosis of his suspected autism, he is statemented by the local authority. He has recently returned to his second one after a gap of three months.

His mother, Sandy, believes that this lack of routine has had a detrimental effect. “It’s not helpful to exclude children,” she said. “It’s not helping the child, it’s just making things worse.”

A recent survey by Treehouse, the autism charity, estimated that 55 per cent of parents had seen their autistic child unofficially excluded.

“How will things ever get better?” asked Sandy. “If they’re not working with him now, how are they ever going to?”

Sarah, 10, also has a statement of special needs, based on serious emotional issues and a history of disruptive behaviour. She has had 20 exclusions since she started school. Tessa, her adoptive mother, believes this has had a negative impact. “What they’re doing is reinforcing what she has in her mind — that you don’t want her around. I’m really angry.”

All names have been changed

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