Stopped in his tracks

CHRISTIAN Medina Finsen was looking forward to starting school with the rest of the boys and girls in September.

The five-year-old with Down Syndrome was to begin junior infants at Lucan Educate Together National School. But his enrolment has been refused because the school says it cannot cater for his moderate learning disability.

Christian’s application was supported by a psychological report saying he would need a full-time special needs assistant (SNA) and resource teaching hours, which need to be sanctioned by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).