A Bexley mum has spoken of her relief after her autistic son was granted extra support at school after threatening court action for the second time.

Kelly Feria De La Torre 42, of Thornton Road, Belvedere, was fighting to get her son Joshua, 11, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a council-funded teaching assistant to help him for 18 hours a week.

Joshua is in Year 7 at the Bexley Business Academy in Yarnton Way, Thamesmead.

He was diagnosed with the condition when he was in Year 5 when a teacher at Joshua's primary school advised his mum to take him to a doctor and get checked.

Bexley Council had refused to give Joshua the 18 hours of extra support a week.

After the News Shopper stepped in and did a story on the family's plight and following a review the council have decided to give Joshua the extra support.

Mrs Feria De La Torre said: "I am so happy that Bexley Council have reviewed Joshua's case and ave now decided that they agree with Bexley Business Academy that he needs 18 hours worth of support added to his statement.

"Now Joshua will be able to access the full curriculum as any other pupil does so his future can be secure and bright and have just a good opportunity in a career that he may choose." A spokesman for Bexley Council said: "The Statutory Assessment Panel decided to allocate additional support for Joshua in recognition of the move from the transition class.

"It was agreed that this support would be reviewed towards the end of the autumn term."

School headteacher Guy Nichols added: "The academy is supportive of Mrs Feria De La Torre’s case to ensure that Joshua has appropriate levels of funding and provision to meet his special educational need.

"Our position has been one to provide evidenced based assessment of need to the parent and local authority."