A FAMILY who won a law suit against a Catholic primary school which failed to give their autistic son adequate support hope to help other parents.

Liz and Brian Lyons won a disability discrimination claim against Our Lady of the Visitation Primary School, in Greenford Road, at a tribunal in September.

The Greenford parents sought legal advice when they realised their nine-year-old son Ross, who was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome - a form of autism - at the age of four, was being taught by insufficiently qualified teachers.

The school has since apologised and is establishing a new policy around special needs pupils, as ordered by the tribunal.

Mrs Lyons said: "You can't expect teachers to manage children if they don't understand them.

"Ross was continuing to get into trouble on an almost daily basis.

"All children are bound to be naughty. He needed extra help and support and he wasn't given it."

Mrs Lyons said Ross had good support at the school until the new school year last September, when he was placed with a new teaching assistant and newly qualified teacher who were not given essential training in autism awareness until two months later.

He was excluded for a total of 31 days, including a period over Christmas where he missed the class party, which left Ross feeling isolated and confused.

"It really damaged his self esteem," his mother said. "He thought he was a very bad child and became very inward and started talking less - when autism is all about communication."

His parents complained to the head teacher and board of governors before contacting charity IPSEA, which provides legal advice for parents of children with special needs.

"We have an older son who has autism but he was never treated like this at his schools," Mrs Lyons continued.

"We could've just taken Ross away but we wanted to help somebody else. We've really been through hell."

Rosaleen Mann, chair of governors, said its 2010 Ofsted report stated the school's provision for children with additional needs was 'well organised' but staff will now receive further training for the needs of autistic children.

She added: "We would like to reassure the school community that the tribunal order is being acted upon. We view it as a valuable opportunity to further strengthen the support being provided for children with special educational needs and disabilities."

Ross's parents said their son is now happily settled at a nearby school where staff are providing 'fantastic' support.