BOLTON Education Department may have followed all the correct procedures in deciding which school partially sighted Daniel Paxford should attend, but they have still arrived at the wrong decision.

To ask the 12-year-old, who also has hearing problems, to attend a school miles from his home is downright ridiculous.

It seems that Charles Clarke, the Government Minister responsible for special needs, thinks that too. He may not have couched his concern in such terms, but the fact that he has asked Bolton Council for an official explanation about why they did not take Daniel's problems into account when they allocated the youngster a secondary school place says it all.

Not only should the council provide Mr Clarke with the explanation he requires, but they should also change their minds and concede that Daniel would be better off at Rivington and Blackrod School.

Daniel would be able to go that school with his elder brother, Christopher. It is obviously not safe for Daniel to travel alone to the Deane School where he has a place.

Daniel, who clearly has enough problems to cope with without missing school, has not attended lessons for the past five months because of the situation.

There are some circumstances where, correct procedures notwithstanding, some common sense should be used.

This is an unusual and special situation. It is time the council admitted they are wrong. Daniel has suffered enough.

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