A Derby mother has spoken of a continuing struggle with the city council over Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) support that she says has left her 10‑year‑old daughter out of education for over a year. Kate Hill, from Mickleover, says her daughter, Beatrix, who has an ADHD diagnosis and is awaiting an official autism assessment, remains without appropriate schooling and that agreed home tuition has not been put in place.
Family life reshaped by lack of provision
Mrs Hill, 44, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the situation had turned her into a full‑time carer and had drastically altered daily life for the family. She said the council was not meeting SEND assessment deadlines and that arrangements she believed had been agreed — 15 hours a week of home tuition from September with a specialised tutor — had not materialised.
- Child: Beatrix, aged 10
- Diagnoses: ADHD; awaiting autism diagnosis
- Education status: Out of education for more than a year
- Agreed tuition: 15 hours a week of home tuition (reported by mother as not in place)
Mrs Hill said the ongoing dispute with Derby City Council was leaving her family "broken", and that despite her daughter wanting to learn, "we have nothing in place." She described the situation as "quite a nightmare" and said she did not know what else she could do while being self‑employed and effectively providing full‑time care.
"I'm deep in the throes of a SEND battle - it is quite a nightmare. My daughter wants to learn, but we have nothing in place. I don't know what else I can do."
Council response and wider context
The disagreement comes as councillors were given updates on how national SEND reforms will affect Derby during a recent children, young people and skills scrutiny board meeting. Sharon Buckby, Derby City Council's director for learning, inclusion and skills, told the meeting the council was "moving in the right direction" and starting to make a difference to families and young people.
Ms Buckby also acknowledged the authority did not always "get the story right" and that work remained to be done for some families, but said the "majority of parents are very" — a comment made during the meeting and reported as part of the council's update on improvements under national reforms.
Local impact and unanswered questions
The case underlines the immediate human impact of delays or failures in education and social care systems for children with complex needs. For families in Derby, prolonged absences from education raise concerns about children's progress, social development and the capacity of parents to provide tailored support while also working.
| Issue | Reported detail |
|---|---|
| Length out of education | More than a year |
| Planned support | 15 hours/week home tuition (specialist tutor) — reportedly not in place |
| Council position | Council says improvements are happening and reforms are being implemented |
Campaigners and parents across Derby have in recent years expressed frustration at delays in assessments, placement allocations and the availability of specialist provision — pressures that local authorities nationwide have faced amid changes to SEND law, rising demand and budget constraints.
For Mrs Hill, the practical consequences are immediate. She has shared her daughter's story in response to comments at the council meeting and to highlight what she says is a gap between official claims of progress and the reality families are living.
Derby residents reliant on the SEND system will be watching how the council responds to cases such as this and whether promised changes bring timely, measurable results for children awaiting assessment, placements or specialist support.
