DANIEL Gourlay has only been allowed to attend school one hour a week for the past three years because teachers are unable to cope with his autism.

And staff told the his mother Barbara Irvine to keep him away from his last sports day.

Mrs Irvine is calling for education officials to stop “discriminating” against her son and allow him the right to a full-time education.

The nine-year-old, from Inverness, was formally diagnosed with pathological demand avoidance (PDA) – an extreme form of autism – last year. It means he is unable to cope in a mainstream environment, as change, loud noises and large groups can prove difficult for him to cope with. His type of autism means he also has to feel in control of every situation.But because Daniel is not classed as having learning difficulties, his mother has been told he does not meet the criteria for a place at a dedicated special needs school.

His education, until this month, was therefore, restricted to just one hour a week at the city’s Inshes Primary, a mainstream school with an additional needs base.

Mrs Irvine has won an increase to two hours a week. And she was told if he coped with this extra hour, they would look to increase that by “five to 10 minutes”.

The mother-of-three said: “Two hours a week is nothing. Daniel wants to go to school like his brother and sister. He’s a bright boy. When he was diagnosed last year, they assessed his ability and they said they were amazed where he was considering his lack of education. They said he had potential to do more, he just needs the right environment. He can’t cope in a class with 20 or 30 other kids. But Because he doesn’t have learning difficulties he doesn’t meet the criteria for a special needs school. So where are our children supposed to go? Daniel will be 10 in May and he’s not been in full-time education since he was six. I really worry about his future.”

Highland Council refused to comment on individual cases, but a spokeswoman said: “Any pupil who presents with significant issues in relation to accessing education, for whatever reason, will be known to ASN (additional support needs) staff within the council who will always work alongside parents to try and overcome any barriers to education and to increase a child’s access to the curriculum and to the social aspects offered by a school. For a very small number of pupils with the most complex needs, this can require the input of a number of services over a long period of time.”