A BOLTON schoolboy who has missed months off school was sent home on his first day back - for not wearing the right uniform.

Jimmy Evans has special needs and his mother June has been battling to get him a place in a local school since the family moved to Bolton from Cambridge earlier this year. But when he eventually turned up yesterday for his first lessons in three months, a senior member of staff said he was wearing the wrong blazer and shoes. Jimmy was then sent back home.

Now angry mum June of Walker Avenue, Great Lever, has accused staff at Hayward School, Great Lever, of looking for excuses to turn her 14-year-old son away because he has special needs. She said: "The school are just being picky because they do not want him there.

"He was a lot smarter than many of the other pupils and was looking forward to his first day - he even spent his pocket money on a pencil case and pens. I did not buy a black blazer because they are expensive and we are only weeks away from the summer holidays.

"Once he has been assessed at Hayward I have been told he might have to go to another school."

Head teacher John Heaton denied the school were looking for excuses to send Jimmy home. He said: "We have a very clear uniform policy which is accepted by pupils and parents at the school.

"We have certain standards and will not allow them to slip."

A spokesman for Bolton Education Authority said they had arranged for Jimmy to receive special support in the school if he turned up yesterday in the appropriate uniform.

The spokesman added: "Providing the school has reasonable standards over uniforms we support that approach.

"We are having further discussions with the school and the family to try and resolve the situation as quickly and amicably as possible."

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