Authority won't communicate with parent, demanding they speak only with daughter

A council has sent sheriff's letters to a learning-disabled teenager for costs while attending a charity-run college.

East Ayrshire Council, which pays for Gemma Greenaway’s care and support in relation to college, reassessed her fees when she turned 18.

Corseford College campus, based at Inchinnan in Renfrewshire, is run by care organisation Capability Scotland and takes students with complex needs up to the age of 25 from local authorities across the west of Scotland.

Her mum Lorna says her daughter has the mental age of a five-year-old but the local authority will only speak to her in relation to the fees.

This is not possible because Gemma has very limited communication skills.

She says bosses have not explained why the charges date back to when her daughter turned 18 or why it has decided to charge when other councils do not.

Lorna Greenaway said: "My understanding is that no student in Scotland pays for education.

"I think it's an injustice to these young individuals with disabilities that they have to pay for their education."

Liz McConnachie, head of Corseford College, said finances can prove a stumbling block for their students.

She said: "Different local authorities have different approaches to it.

"Some councils are very accommodating, they look at the opportunities at Corseford College as being a positive transition and destination to continue education.

"Others see the college as being day care – which it's not."

In a statement, East Ayrshire Council said: "There is no charge attributed for the college attendance. The attendance is not viewed as day care."

The council said that if an individual requires transport to the college or additional support then this is assessed.

It said the costs could be taken from disability benefits, as long as they were above a certain threshold.

Ms Greenaway said she remained "stressed at the constant demands" to make payments, and she was concerned about setting a precedent.

She said: "I feel if I pay for Gemma, any other student that follows through from East Ayrshire to this college, they will have to pay as well."

She added that the whole situation is "definitely" forcing her to reconsider her daughter's future education.

"It is getting to the stage that for Gemma to continue there, it's probably going to have to come from our source of income," she said.