AN autistic Wirral girl has been taken out of school by her father because he claims she is not getting the level of education she needs.

Rachael Machell, 12, from Wallasey, currently attends the Meadowside School in Woodchurch but father Michael says that the school is not meeting her needs. Mr Machell says that he would prefer Rachael to attend West Kirby Residential School like her 15-year-old brother David.

David, who has spina bifida and epilepsy, has been showing great improvements since he has attended West Kirby, says Mr Machell.

"David has improved by two years, in terms of educational standards, in the time he has been at West Kirby. Rachael was six-and-a-half years behind three years ago and she is still six-and-a-half behind now," he said.

"Meadowside staff have to concentrate on more severely disabled children and my daughter is falling further behind. If this keeps happening what prospects will she have for employment?"

Rachael's reading, maths and comprehension are all around the level of the average six-year-old and Mr Machell believes that moving her to the West Kirby school would bring about the sort of change that he has seen in his son.

"They were saying the same things about David last year and he has gained two years in a very short space of time," he said.

Mr Machell says he may now take Rachael's case to the Special Educational Needs Tribunal in London. He has paid £375 for an independent educational psychologist to assess both Meadowside and Rachael's needs and abilities.

Said Mr Machell: "Education is a stepping stone and if we don't set the stones properly we will ruin her life. At the end of the day I just want the best for my kids."

A spokesman for Wirral Council said that it was the belief of the Education Department that Rachael is correctly placed and making good progress in Meadowside.

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