PM vows to intervene on Essex school ‘sibling ban’ row

The prime minister has promised to intervene on a school’s “sibling ban” rule that prevents a family with a severely disabled child attending milestone events.

Natasha and James say their six-year-old daughter, Hollie, who attends Benyon Primary in South Ockendon, Essex, is often left in tears as they cannot attend plays and parents’ evenings.

The Catalyst Academies Trust, which runs the school, denies a ban but says numbers have to be controlled at some events for “practical and safety reasons”.

Jen Craft, Labour MP for Thurrock, raised the family’s story at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, and told the BBC that the trust had done little to respond to her concerns.

Craft told the Commons that Hollie’s three-year-old brother William “has profound, multiple, life-limiting disabilities and needs 24/7 care.

“He is also a delightful little boy.

“As they cannot bring William or leave him with a babysitter this effectively means that Hollie’s parents also stay away from school events.”

She said the trust had “repeatedly refused to make an exception.. or meet with myself to discuss ways forward.”

Prime Minister Andy Burnham replied that he had asked the Department for Education to speak to the trust “to resolve this situation without delay”.