Child with special needs 'forced to eat dirt at school'
FIRST ON 7: The parents of a child with special needs say their son was kicked, punched and forced to eat dirt by other students after he was moved into mainstream education.
Stephen and Amy Illidge enrolled their son Jacob at Marshall Road State School in Brisbane’s south last year because of its special needs program.
The nine-year-old, who has Doose Syndrome, saw a marked improvement in his learning.
But at the end of last year, Jacob’s parents say his teachers were told they would not have their contracts renewed.
They were forced to move Jacob into the mainstream of his school.
“I was very devastated. I couldn't believe it,” Amy told 7News.
"It's meant that Jacob's struggled."
The couple say Jacob is regularly picked on by his peers.
“He was pushed to the ground and kicked in the tummy and face several times,” Stephen said.
“He was sat on and made to eat dirt."
Jacob's parents decided to go public after exhausting every other avenue of action.
They say the system has let their son down.
The Queensland Department of Education says there has been “no changes to the operation of Marshall Road State School's Special Education Program.”
They also say Jacob’s bullying has been investigated and that “consequences have been implemented."
The family have met with the department but would also like to meet the Education Minister in person.
"We do want to meet with the minister," Stephen said.
"She's a mother, her platform was she's a mother."
News break - May 8
