PARENTS of a disabled boy who has to eat through a tube were stunned when on his first day at school they were told by squeamish teachers: "We can't take your son."

Five-year-old Noah Pursglove has a rare condition that causes his body to reject food and relies on a feeding tube into his stomach to survive.

Noah's parents, Hannah and Darren Pursglove, told education authorities about their son's condition as he approached his date for starting school.

But after they proudly dressed him in his uniform for the first time and took him to Morley Primary School, they were turned away.

Hannah, 28, said: "Can you imagine what it's like to tell your child that he can't start school because he's different to other children his age? He already knows that and has to deal with his problems on a daily basis. This incident has been horrendous. Staff were squeamish about his feeding tube. I am appalled."

Education officials have finally apologised – but only after more than a year, and threats by the couple to take the school to a tribunal which rules on whether disabled children have been treated fairly.

It took his parents seven months to find Noah a new school. They are furious he missed so much education.

Hannah said: "This disruption to his life has been terrible. It has caused us severe stress and upset."

The school had wanted to appoint a special carer for Noah, but when he arrived for his first day, no-one was in place, due to delays in funding.

After the fiasco, a letter from the school's chair of governors said the county council would review its procedures to ensure that appropriate advice, support and guidance was given to both parents and schools in cases such as this.

Hannah and Darren launched a legal battle, claiming their son's disability, a condition called eosinophilic colitis, had been discriminated against.

They asked for their case to be ruled on by a judicial tribunal that considers appeals against decisions made by local education authorities on children with special educational needs and disabilities.

They were backed with free legal advice and support from voluntary organisation Independent Parental Special Education Advice (IPSEA).

Days before the tribunal hearing earlier this month, letters of apology were hand delivered to the family.

Hannah, a foster carer, said: "This whole episode has been extremely stressful."

She said she took Noah for an induction class at the school, but was told he would not be allowed to be fed with the other children and would have to sit in the library.

She was also told the head teacher would want to write to parents about Noah's condition to gauge reaction, which she felt unfairly put the spotlight on his condition.

"On the day he was due to start school he had his uniform on and was really excited about starting school for the first time in his life," said Hannah.

"He was gutted when I told him that he wasn't able to go. I didn't tell him why because I was so upset.

"The school failed him – it's as simple as that."

Noah missed more than seven months of school before starting at Ashbrook Infant Community School in Borrowash, where he now receives one-to-one care.

He is having to repeat his reception year and Hannah believes this is partly because he was late starting his education.

Hannah said: "He's in horrendous pain and can be quite poorly.

"His older sister has also been disrupted because I had to move her from Morley Primary School. It's been terrible."

Before the tribunal hearing, the school, in Main Road, Morley, accepted that Noah had been discriminated against on the grounds of his disability.

Chris Gravell of the Independent Parental Special Education Advice said: "The IPSEA welcomes this positive outcome for Noah.

"The school, by law, should ensure that positive steps were put in place for Noah so that he could attend his first school as happily and successfully as other children who aren't disabled.

"It has been a rocky start to school life for Noah."

A spokesperson for Derbyshire County Council said: "Every child's education is important to us and we work hard with schools to ensure accessibility for all.

"We will continue to offer on-going support and training to all schools in Derbyshire and are reviewing our procedures to ensure that appropriate advice, support and guidance is offered to parents and schools in cases such as this."