I used to be the kind of person who trusted the experts - you know, doctors, government bodies, people in suits with important-sounding job titles. I assumed they had our best interests at heart. How naive of me.

Last week, my husband and I attended a two-hour online mediation meeting with Lancashire County Council (LCC). The purpose of the meeting was to present our reasons for disagreeing with the specialist school (Nugent House) that LCC has chosen for our ASD son.

Chorley, Lancashire, UK – Kristina and Ryan Hunt are facing an educational crisis after learning their son, Theo, a 10-year-old with autism, has been assigned to Nugent House, a school the family says is not appropriate for his needs. Despite a two-year effort to secure a suitable specialist placement, the decision by Lancashire County Council has left them frustrated and fearing for Theo’s wellbeing.