Family's fears as SEND son loses college place

The family of a 22-year-old autistic man with severe learning disabilities say he has taken "a massive step back" after losing his place at a specialist college.

George Mulcahy, from Shorne, spent three years at St Piers College, where his parents say he learnt skills including washing clothes, making his bed and using a dishwasher.

His parents Billy and Sharon Mulcahy say Kent County Council (KCC) has stopped funding the place and instead named a college that cannot meet his complex needs.

KCC said education provision decisions were based on professional assessments, family views and whether a setting could meet a young person's needs and agreed outcomes.

George attended the residential college during the week and returned home at weekends and during holidays.

His parents said the placement helped him develop skills needed for semi-independent living.

These included doing his washing, loading a dishwasher, making his bed and folding clothes.

Sharon Mulcahy said the college named by KCC could not provide support George relied upon.

"They haven't got an outside area for him to go for his general walks which he gets at St Piers every couple of hours," she said.

"He goes for a half-hour walk to regulate himself, so he hasn't got that, and they've said now they cannot meet his needs."

The family has appealed against the council's decision and a tribunal hearing is due in April 2027.

Billy Mulcahy said he was worried about the impact on his son while they waited for the case to be heard.

"Everybody knows George's needs.

"They were met at the college where he was going and he needs to be stimulated.

"He needs to be doing things.

"He doesn't need to be sitting in his bedroom for six months."

The family said Sharon Mulcahy had given up her job as a school cook to care for George.

St Piers College charges annual residential fees of between about £99,000 and £112,000.

The family said paying for the placement privately was not possible because of the cost.

"We're just at a desperate stage, we've emailed everyone, we've sent messages to everyone, we're just trying to do all we can to help George," Mr Mulcahy said.

"We need him to go to this college because once the college is over, it's about setting him up in life for when we're not around.

"So we just need to do all the best things we can for him."

"He can't fight for himself, so we have to fight for him," Mrs Mulcahy added.

Kent County Council said it understood families could feel concerned when they disagreed with decisions about a young person's future.

It said decisions about education provision for young people with Education, Health and Care Plans were made under the SEND Code of Practice.

The authority said decisions were based on professional assessments, family views and whether a setting could meet a young person's assessed needs and agreed outcomes.

It added that plans were reviewed regularly and families could challenge decisions through mediation and independent tribunal appeals.

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