Should parental considerations dominant political ones? That was clearly the dilemma faced by Cabinet Minister Ruth Kelly in choosing to send her dyslexic child to a £15,000 a year boarding school as there was so suitable local authority alternative.

If true, this admits a serious failing of educational provisions for children with special needs – and as a former Education Secretary, she would be aware of this more than anyone else. And did she give her local authority a chance to resolve the problem and find somewhere suitable, which is their statutory duty?

I am surprised we knew nothing about Ruth Kelly’s dyslexic child when she was Education Secretary, that she did not use her personal experiences to champion special needs schools.

Ruth Kelly would have been aware of the political backlash her decision was likely to cause, the double standards row that would erupt over Labour Ministers and private education. She cannot be the only parent who feels let down by the Government’s lack of special needs provision. Only they can’t afford private education. They want the best educational provision for their child too, but something closer to home, not a boarding school.

I wonder what Kate Griggs makes of this, she is a dyslexic who challenged Ruth Kelly during the last general election to raise awareness about the condition.

Do you feel Ruth Kelly made the right choice? It is certainly an embarrassment for the Government and does not show any confidence in their special needs policy.

Btw, famous dyslexics include Sir Winston Churchill, Sir Richard Branson and Albert Einstein.

Update: Croydonian has the info from Ruth Kelly’s local authority.