A SEND pupil had her college place pulled last minute with bosses unable to "meet her needs"... before being re-enrolled on her course.

The student, who wished to remain anonymous, was set to start on Monday at Southend's South Essex College to study health and social care.

Living with autism, ADHD, social phobia panic disorder and trauma, the 16-year-old is undergoing an Education, Health and Care Plan assessment - which is at draft stage, and would mean she has access to extra provision and support.

Having enrolled at the college, informed them of her condition and earned the required grades, the bright youngster was shocked to receive a letter from South Essex informing her that she could no longer start with them on Monday.

Furious, her mum, 41 from Southend, said: "The letter said her enrolment would be cancelled and that she was unable to study an honour course at the college. Apparently they'd received further information from Southend authorities detailing the level of support needed.

"An hour later after receiving the letter, my daughter then had a phone call saying she needed to be in college at 10.30am on Monday. We rang in to check the situation, but the college said the letter was correct.

"The reasons stated weren’t even academic, they were in relation to my daughter’s disability. They also mentioned “safeguarding”, but she's not even had any safeguarding incidents before.

"It was extremely unfair and disability discrimination, she did so well with her GCSE's and worked so hard to get them.

"I was absolutely livid. She has quite severe anxiety and so knowing what to expect and being prepared is very important. It was like a rug under her feet had been taken away."

However, with additional resources available, she has now been re-enrolled.

A spokesman from South Essex College, said: "We understand and appreciate all SEND students’ needs are specific to each individual and we endeavour to secure the special educational provision that each young person needs.

"We work with all applicants on an individual basis when they apply for a course to understand any additional support requirements they may need and work to put measures in place to ensure equal opportunities for all. This is based on the information provided by students, guardians and professionals involved.

"The college met with this applicant in July to discuss her needs and from the information provided at that time, we believed we would be in a position to provide the support needed.

"However, additional information was provided last week which gave us sufficient cause for concern that we could not meet her needs.

"As such, we made the difficult decision to cancel her enrolment, but the college has been working closely with the Local Authority (LA) in an attempt to resolve the situation. An application has been submitted to the LA for additional resources to allow us to fully support this student at college.

"Her enrolment has since been reinstated as we are satisfied these additional resources will support us to meet her specific needs."

Laurie Burton, councillor for children and learning, said: “Whilst we do not comment on individual cases the approach we follow as a local authority when developing a young person’s Education, Health and Care Plan is we always undertake formal consultation with the preferred education provider.

"This consultation is required in order to determine if the setting can deliver the special educational provision required by the child or young person.

"Education providers are required to make reasonable adjustments for pupils with SEND and it is an exceptionally high criteria to meet in order to satisfy that a setting is not suitable.

"Where necessary we always work together with a learning establishment to support them in making necessary adjustments and provide them with appropriate resources to do so.”