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

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.

“William is 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”.

Craft told the BBC the trust “made me want to tear my hair out,” adding: “They were completely unreceptive to me from day one.

“For me it is a lack of compassion and a lack of seeing how they can best support disabled families.”