A severely handicapped 11-year-old girl is at the centre of a row which could mean her being out of school for a year.

Karina Shepherd was taken out of Hob Moor Oaks Special School, in Acomb, York, in June 2004, by her parents because they say she had not been happy there for some time and she has not been back since.

Martin Shepherd, 34, and his wife, Amanda, 31, of Durlston Drive, Strensall, are locked in a row with the school and education authority over where their daughter should go to school.

Karina has the rare neurological disorder Rett Syndrome, which affects one in every 10,000 girls born and is believed to be the second most common cause of severe and profound learning disability in girls.

People with the syndrome are highly dependent on others for their needs throughout their lives - Karina cannot talk or walk and has to be fed by a gastrostomy, a tube into to her stomach.

Mrs Shepherd said the problems began at Hob Moor Oak when Karina was put in a class with older children.

She said:"You could tell there was something really wrong she started getting really agitated and trying to bite herself.

"Karina is always really happy and all of a sudden she stopped being her normal self - it's just a shame she can't tell us what was happening."

The Shepherds said they complained to the school and the LEA and were told Karina could go back to Hob Moor Oaks or another primary school, Springwater Special School, in Harrogate, until she was eligible to start secondary school in September.

Mr and Mrs Shepherd said the decision to send Karina to Harrogate was "ludicrous" and would mean her being upset even further when she then had to move to Applefields secondary school, in Burnholme, York, in September.

They said they were told by council officers it was cheaper to pay for taxis and a carer to take Karina to school in Harrogate than to get her in to Applefields early - something denied by the LEA.

David Waite, head of special educational needs services at City of York Council, said: "We are concerned Karina has been out of school for so long and that it could continue.

"Applefields is not an appropriate placement at present, but it will be in September when she'll be secondary school age. In the meantime there's a full time place waiting for her at Hob Moor Oaks and we have every confidence in the excellent teaching provision there."

Hob Moor Oaks head teacher Sue Williams said: "Karina is a wonderful young lady with profound and multiple learning difficulties and she's a joy to have in the school.

"There is no reason why she is not in school, there is a place for her and we'd welcome her back.

"We have been involved in an on-going dialogue with her parents and we are open to talk at any time."

Updated: 09:31 Wednesday, January 12, 2005