Preparing your child for their first days at a new school can be stressful for most parents.

But finding a school place for her profoundly disabled daughter has become such a nightmare for Janet Wood she is considering taking Croydon Council to court.

Mrs Wood's daughter, 12-year-old Joanna, is due to leave Rutherford School, South Croydon, an independent special needs school, in July as it only teaches children up to 13.

But Mrs Wood says although Croydon Council knew her daughter and other members of the class would be leaving at the end of the academic year there is still no news on a school place for Joanna.

The Shirley resident has made frequent calls to the education department but is still waiting to hear if her daughter has a definite school place in Croydon for the start of the academic year in September.

Now she is so frustrated she has spoken to solicitors about taking the council to court for breaching her daughter's human rights.

She said: "It is not the school's fault. It has been trying to get the age group extended so they can keep the children on.

"There is no provision for these children. There is no school in Croydon for them and no school in the surrounding areas that will be able to take them apart from Tadworth, which for most children is too far away.

"My daughter has profound needs. It takes a good hour to get her ready for school as it is. She would probably have to be up at 5.30am to 5.45am and would have to be picked up at 7am to get her over to Tadworth. There is the option for her to go to a residential school but I don't think I should be pushed into residential schooling.

"She is part of a big family I have five children. I just feel really disappointed I have five children and one of my children Croydon cannot provide for."

Anne Moore, the council's chief educational psychologist said: "The education department is actively working to secure suitable local provision for Joanna when she leaves Rutherford School in the summer."

She added: I have spoken to Mrs Wood to reassure her and plan to meet the whole parent group in the near future."

Joanna is one of a group of leavers from Rutherford and it is the responsibility of the LEA to ensure that appropriate provision is offered."