A mum has slammed a prestigious Wimbledon school after her son's offer of a place was withdrawn because of his 'personal care issues'.

Four-year-old Phoenix was due to start reception at the independent Donhead Preparatory School this September after a place was offered by then-headmaster Chris McGrath in January last year.

However mum-of-one Fior Avona, from Oak Hill Court, was “shocked” when she received a letter in May from the school which said they were now withdrawing the place.

Mr McGrath said in the letter the decision was because Phoenix “is clearly not properly toilet trained yet and we cannot accept children into reception who have personal care issues”.

The letter also stated that Phoenix’s behaviour at a carol service last December, which both he and his mother were asked to leave before the concert began, “concerned me greatly”.

He added that the decision was supported by the statement in Donhead’s acceptance agreement, whereby the offer of a place can be withdrawn on the receipt of an “unsatisfactory” report from The Orchard Day Nursery.

Phoenix has been toilet trained for more than three months now and Ms Avona says the report was sent before this had happened.

Ms Anova, 49, said she and a friend visited the school with a friend in 2015 where Mr McGrath allegedly explained that they had never offered a bursary before and would make an exception for Phoenix because they are a “caring school and would consider others less fortunate”.

The full-time mum added: “In this day and age, I would have at the very least expected the school to discuss with me the reasons why he was not yet fully toilet trained and not simply accept the nursery’s report without my input.

“Not to mention why Mr McGrath thought my son’s behaviour in church was a concern to him? It was very humiliating to leave the church.”

She says she has not yet obtained the report from either The Orchard Day Nursery or Donhead.

Ms Avona said she was told by Merton Council’s school admissions office that the decision could not be challenged and there were no assurances of a place at other schools because it would mean pupils would lose their own places.

Phoenix was diagnosed with sensory processing disorder this June, a condition which refers to difficulties receiving and responding to sensory information.

She said: “He has been treated less favourably than other children his age because of his condition.

“Donhead should have taken reasonable steps to find out more about my son’s disability, but they failed to do so.

“They have left my son at a huge disadvantage and delayed his schooling because they reneged on the offer.”

Ms Anova claims the decision has left her “very depressed” because Phoenix does not have a place.

She said: “Every day we see Donhead pupils from our window going to school and it is a huge blow and upsetting when my son should have been joining them.

“I guess it was not the right school for him [because] they do not show any integrity or forethought for the consequences of refusing him a place.”

A Donhead spokesperson said the place was contingent on a “satisfactory” nursery report and the withdrawal had nothing to do with the diagnosis, as it was revealed five weeks after the letter was sent.

They said that the application was dealt in line with the school’s admissions policy, which requires parents to visit the school and an acceptable nursery report.

Mr McGrath has since left the school after serving as its headteacher for ten years.

The Orchard Day Nursery declined to comment.