Boy with disability told he can no longer attend St John’s Grammar School ELC after turning 5, leaving his parents in the lurch

A South Australian family has been left in the lurch by a private school after they were told their son, who has a disability, can no longer be accommodated at its ELC.

An SA family has been left with nowhere to send their son with a disability after a meeting with a private school’s early learning centre left them feeling like he was being “pushed out”.

Matthew and Romi Richardson said they were left traumatised after St John’s Grammar School informed them a few weeks ago their five-year-old son Winston would not be “accommodated” at the ELC for 2023’s second semester.

“I feel so anxious, I’m almost in tears … they are just pushing us out … it’s just completely wrong,” Ms Richardson said.

The news came after the Richardsons informed the ELC they were not planning to enrol Winston into the St John’s junior school as they “cannot afford the fees” – a decision the couple told the original director when they first enrolled their child in 2022.

Winston, who has global development delay, has the cognitive, motor, speech and social skills of a child 18 months younger than he is and has been recommended by his healthcare professionals to be held back a year from school.

St John’s Grammar School’s early learning centre (ELC) director Bettina Abram. Picture: Matt Loxton

Winston is enrolled at St John’s ELC for two days a week as well as at Jean Bonython Kindergarten – a kindy that “funnels” into Belair Primary School – for two days.

Belair Primary School, the Richardsons’ school of choice, does not accept mid-year enrolments, leaving Winston with nowhere to attend school in the second half of the year.

St John’s will not allow Winston to continue the remainder of the year at ELC and is recommending that he move to its junior school for the remainder of the year before transferring to the public school in 2024.

“It is just going to be so unsettling and disturbing for him and our family,” Ms Richardson said.

Mr Richardson said the educators told them the reason they wanted to keep Winston in the ELC is because they “both work and need somewhere to put him”.

“There were lots of really undermining, rude comments like that in this meeting which was just so unnecessary,” Ms Richardson said.

“We both left feeling shocked … absolutely shocked, not knowing what we’re going to do with Winston.”

A statement provided by St John’s said the school prided itself on working closely with its families to ensure students thrive throughout their schooling.

“The successful transitioning of students to the next stage of their learning journey across all campuses and programs, including from the school’s ELC to its Mid-Year Reception program, is based on a balance of educational, developmental and wellbeing considerations. Where a student will continue their education has no bearing on this process,” the statement read.

“St John’s is proud of the inclusive education it provides to all students, which includes a

differentiated experience to effectively cater for the many young people with a diverse range of needs.”