I AM a mother who has two children that are still of school age and attending Falmouth Community School. In light of recent reports around the school I felt compelled to write. My son is a very well developed boy who has the appearance of someone a couple of years older than his actual age; he is currently at the age of the year nines. He also has learning difficulties and is perceived to be behaviourally difficult, as it seems many pupils are within the school. These difficulties were already known about when my son transferred from primary school and were in his statement of education needs, which is an assessment that is carried out by an educational professional. The educational psychologist should effectively use it to plan appropriate learning plans for individuals alongside the teachers; the school, I add, receives additional funding for these children.

My son was literally left at the back of every class and instructed to just do reams of copying each lesson. At first he was co-operative and did this as asked, but understandably this became very tedious and boring for him, which resulted in him becoming restless and disruptive in as much as he was interrupting the flow of the class for everyone else.

Teachers made no effort to try any other approaches that would help him to learn himself and overcome his difficulties; he was getting nowhere other than in trouble.

This seems to be a vicious circle, which I know many other pupils and parents are trapped in. The school would then raise their arms in the air over his aggression, as they referred to it, but that sort of treatment only alienated him further from all his peers. He has also been referred to on many occasions as a thug!

Despite the fact that they knew of my son's problems, plus the fact that I voiced my unhappiness, they carried on and put him into French lessons. How on earth can someone be seriously expected to learn French when they are struggling to read and write the language of English that they speak every day?

When things deteriorated further the educational psychologist was called in again as I had now got to the stage where I was keeping my son at home frequently, both through my own choice and the school's advice at times. He actually told me, to my total disgust, that it would be better if he was excluded, as then there would be more funding for him.

I was also, on one occasion, given the choice of sending him to a residential school or going into school every day and sitting in a room with my son on our own while he worked. I refused both options.

My son has now been out of school for the best part of a year at what is a vital time in his education. As time goes on the chances of him settling back into mainstream education get less and less. I know personally, for a fact, of four others who are in the same situation and, like me, feel a very strong sense of discrimination against themselves as parents and also against their children's difficulties. Also, importantly, it must also be noted that these children are not provided with adequate education whilst they are out of school, despite what the officials say - they are lucky if they get a handful of hours every week.

I noticed the comment in The Packet recently about how the school was asking for £1.50 for a full copy of the Ofsted report. The writer said it would be more appropriate to call a meeting to allay fears of parents. Interestingly there has been no news of a meeting for the parents, but the pupils have been addressed as a whole in assembly and were told that Ofsted could not add up and do their sums, as if it was a proven fact that Ofsted got it wrong. Maybe this was a rehearsal for when and if they address the parents who, if like me, have serious worries. We feel this is a time when we are a little more likely to voice our opinions, as maybe now we will be heard. Perhaps that's why the children were addressed, fearing if the teachers were seen to have weaknesses, the pupils may get too brave and start telling their stories and thoughts on the school. I believe respect is earned through honesty.

Name and address supplied