The mother of an autistic five-year-old boy is fighting to have him educated at home, writes Madeleine Pennell.

Deborah Elmes wants funding for her son, Chase, to have one-to-one tuition like other autistic youngsters in Oxfordshire.

But Oxfordshire County Council has assessed Chase and decided he should go to a special school.

Mrs Elmes, 33, of Middleton Road, Banbury, is taking the council to a tribunal to try to overturn its decision.

The youngster attended the nursery at Frank Wise Special School, off Broughton Road, Banbury, for more than a year when he was three, but did not receive the attention he needed, said Mrs Elmes. Then she heard about the two-year Lovaas Programme of one-to-one therapy for autistic children.

The programme costs 18,000 a year to run and Mrs Elmes raised 15,000 towards the cost by setting up an appeal fund. She converted a room in her home, advertised for therapists, organised training for them and withdrew Chase from the nursery. The youngest of three children, Chase now plays happily with brother, Christian, 11 and sister, Christina, nine. "My son has improved beyond all recognition," said Mrs Elmes. "He was also mute, but he started talking a couple of weeks ago and has a wide range of words now."

Mr John Mitchell, Oxfordshire County Council education spokesman, said: "In our view the provision at Frank Wise School is suitable for him."