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Ellie-Mai O’Reilly, 12, who has autism, ADHD, lower limb loss and an eye tremor, has struggled to fit in at a mainstream school. Her family have been fighting for years to get her into a special needs school, where she would be with other children with similar needs.

In her letter to the Prime Minister, Ellie-Mai describes how she has found it hard to settle in, keep up with the work set and make friends.

Ellie-Mai, from Sutton, south London, said: “We have reached a point where I don’t feel like I can show my face at school any more.

“This leaves me feeling very angry and then I take my anger out on my family, which leaves us all feeling sad and they are angry with me too.

“Something has to change, are you the man to do it?”

The brave youngster brought her letter to Downing Street with campaign group Let Us Learn Too.

The team also delivered a petition signed by more than 11,000 people, including celebrities Stephen Fry and Piers Morgan.

It highlighted problems disabled children and young people are facing with accessing an education. It also raised concerns about the Government’s review of support for people with special educational needs and disabilities, known as Send.

Hayley Harding, 38, who co-founded the group with three other mothers, said too many local authorities are not providing support to which disabled children are entitled.

She said: “A lot of children who can’t access school without additional help aren’t getting that help because local authorities turn them down for reasons that aren’t lawful. A lot of them use the tribunal system as almost part of the process, rather than an appeal.

“Effectively, they’re trying to whittle down which families will fight and challenge them. Ultimately that saves them money. We’re saying that’s not the right way to go about things.” Hayley’s son Matthew, six, has autism but was initially turned down by Sutton Council when his family applied for him to have an education, health and care plan put in place.

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She fought the decision and he now attends a mainstream school with specialist provision for pupils with autism.

Hayley, a solicitor, launched a local support group in 2019.

She co-founded the national campaign in September and said the response has been “phenomenal”.

The petition also raised concerns about the way a Government review of services, launched in 2019, is being carried out.

Hayley said: “We want there to be a better balance of voices. We really need accountability in the system, otherwise the problems that have been going on for the past four or five years won’t change.”

A Department for Education spokesman said: “We aim to improve outcomes and better prepare young people with special educational needs or disabilities effectively for adult life through our Send Review.

Supporting “The claims in this petition are misleading. This Government is committed to supporting and protecting children with Send.

“We are working closely with children and young people with Send, their parents and carers to ensure their views remain at the heart of this work.”

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