A mother has revealed how her young son has been absent from school for two years as she criticises Birmingham City Council’s ‘disjointed system.’ Empress Shashamane withdrew her six year old son, King Gabriel-Vassell, from school in 2023 after he departed the grounds unnoticed by staff. The mother explained he was missing from Oasis Academy Woodview in Edgbaston for approximately 15 minutes, causing distress to both King and Empress.
She felt her son wasn’t secure at the school, prompting her decision to seek alternative educational provision elsewhere. Nevertheless, given King’s complex requirements, including autism, ADHD and sensory processing challenges, he needs extensive support, reports Birmingham Live. Empress claims that consequently, Birmingham City Council has failed to secure a placement that meets the family’s satisfaction. The mother, from Edgbaston, told BirminghamLive the entire ordeal has been “overwhelming.”
She explained: “King has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder with significant neurodevelopmental delay, sensory processing difficulties, communication challenges, and a need for 24/7 high-level support. He remains non-verbal, has complex sensory needs, and presents with absconding behaviours and heightened anxiety, particularly in overstimulating or unpredictable environments. King was also diagnosed with ADHD in April 2025.”
She alleges that Birmingham City Council has failed to provide her son with a “suitable, lawful, and therapeutic educational placement since he was safeguarded lost while in their care on November 30 2023.” The mother continued: “Since that incident, King has been out of school, and despite numerous correspondences and formal complaints, no fit-for-purpose education or therapeutic provision has been arranged.
“His Education, Health and Care Plan remains inadequate and misrepresentative, lacking vital input from relevant health professionals and missing agreed therapies such as speech and language therapy due to breakdown of communication and trust. I have exhausted the formal complaints process with Birmingham City Council, reaching stage two.
“I have also submitted supporting evidence to Ofsted, although they confirmed they do not have the authority to intervene in individual cases.” Empress maintains that the circumstances have profoundly affected both her and King. She explained: “This ongoing failure has had a devastating impact on King’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
“He has regressed in multiple areas, experiences increased sensory distress, and has become even more isolated. As a parent and full-time carer, the strain has taken a serious toll on my physical health, mental resilience, and family life. Navigating these systems is emotionally draining and continues to rob my son of his right to an education and a dignified quality of life.”
A spokesperson for Birmingham City Council remarked: “We are aware of the family and are working with them. Unfortunately, we cannot comment on individual circumstances.” Meanwhile, a representative at Oasis Academy Woodview commented: “The safety and wellbeing of our pupils is always a top priority for us at Oasis Academy Woodview.”
They continued to elaborate on their commitment to safeguarding, stating, “We have continued to strengthen and evolve our safeguarding practices, ensuring specialist staff are equipped to support our pupils’ diverse needs and protect those most vulnerable.” The school’s efforts have not gone unnoticed, as they added, “This has been reflected in our most recent Ofsted inspection, which highlighted the positive progress we have made as a school community.”
The spokesperson further emphasised their dedication to student welfare, saying, “We take our duty to ensure all pupils feel safe, happy and a sense of belonging at Oasis Academy Woodview seriously, and we remain committed to fostering an inclusive, nurturing environment where every child can thrive – academically, socially, and emotionally.” An Ofsted report from 2025 corroborates the school’s effective approach, noting: “The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”