A KILWINNING boy with autism was excluded from the new Lockhart campus for his behaviour, with his grandad complaining that the family have been left without answers from authorities.

The child’s grandfather, who asked to remain anonymous, complained that the school had been unable to manage his behaviour after the move to the £20million new campus and that communication with the education bosses was a ‘shambles’.

Police Scotland confirmed to the Herald last week officers had been called out to the campus to respond to incidents on five occasions since open in August.

He said: “My grandson has been excluded the past month – it’s absolutely shocking.

"He’s autistic and he’s not got high concentration levels so when he finishes his work in the school, he seems to annoy some of the weans because he’s totally bored.

“They put one psychologist and when she tried to stop him he lashed out at her – but anyone who knows anything about autism knows when they’re like that you just don’t.

“I had a meeting with them just before he was excluded and they were citing major staff shortages.

"They say they are wanting a phased return.

“They’re trying to run it like a mainstream school but they just can’t do it – it’s like a maximum security prison inside with all the internal security doors.

“He went to James Reid, and James Reid managed his behaviour.

“It wasn’t always fine but they dealt with it.

"It’s just a totally different environment there and he’s been struggling big time.

“So because of staff shortages and all the rest of it they’ve just had him staying in the house.

"His mental health is deteriorating.

“The communication with the school and the education department has been shocking – it’s just been a shambles.

“This wasn’t just sprung on them. Anytime there is issues they keep saying it’s teething problems, but it’s more than teething problems when they are starting to exclude kids from school.

"I don’t know where to turn.”

Asked if they had any answers for the child’s grandparent, a North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “We don’t comment on individual pupils or their circumstances.”

We revealed last month how one Kilwinning mum reported an alleged assault on her child from a teacher when she grabbed his ear defenders.

Since our report, other parents have since also come forward raising incidents of bullying.

And former Stanecastle head teacher Martin Edwards, who told the Herald council bosses had ‘no idea about additional needs at all’ raised concerns on ‘unusual and irregular’ recruitment which saw ‘unqualified and inexperienced’ senior management installed at Lockhart.

He told the Herald children with significant behaviour challenges are now ‘ruling the roost’ – and senior council officers leading the project had ‘no idea about additional needs at all’.

However North Ayrshire Council responded that “the majority” of teachers came from the former ASN schools – adding they believe all processes and procedures were followed correctly.