Katie Price has documented her challenging 200-mile journey as she took devastated son Harvey back to his residential college this week.
The former glamour model, 46, who was at risk of having to withdraw her son from the £350,000-a-year Cheltenham school amid her bankruptcy, admitted Harvey wanted to stay with her and said she soon hoped to be able to move him closer to the new family home in Sussex after leaving her Mucky Mansion.
Harvey is blind, autistic, has septo-optic dysplasia, a learning disability, and is one of the 2,000 people in the UK with Prader-Willi syndrome, a genetic disorder.
The Mirror reports that Katie took to Snapchat of the ‘difficult and upsetting’ journey which saw an upset Harvey lash out in the car.
She told followers: ‘Now that was very difficult, it was really upsetting. Harvey just did not want to go back to college.’
‘I’m surprised I’ve still got a car left. He was literally gonna go for the car. It is so sad when your son just doesn’t wanna go to college and just wants to be with you all the time.
Katie Price, 46, has documented her challenging 200-mile journey as she took devastated son Harvey, 22, back to his residential college this week
The ex glamour model, who was at risk of having to withdraw her son from the £350,000-a-year Cheltenham school amid her bankruptcy, admitted Harvey wanted to stay with her
‘That’s why I can’t wait for him to come home near us but the place we have got for him is not ready yet, maybe in May. So yeah, it is heartbreaking.’
Harvey has been has been attending and living at specialist institution National Star since 2021, but amid cut to funding and Katie’s financial woes was almost withdrawn from the school last year.
Speaking on her The Katie Price Show podcast last year, Katie said: ‘I’m having a nightmare at the minute.
‘We were looking for him to stay at his college another year or if not a placement, but [the local authority] haven’t accepted it.
‘They’ve given me three months that he has to find somewhere else by July. With someone like Harvey you need the transitional move, you need to do it slow’.
However thankfully Harvey was able to stay at the school and in December Katie shared a snap of her son proudly holding up his letter to Santa which revealed his college triumphs.
His sweet letter read: ‘Dear Santa, my name is Harvey Price. I am 22 years old, my birthday is 27th May.
‘I have been doing really good work in National Star College. This week I swam 10 laps in my swim session.
Harvey is blind, autistic, has septo-optic dysplasia, a learning disability, and is one of the 2,000 people in the UK with Prader-Willi syndrome, a genetic disorder
Katie took to Snapchat of the ‘difficult and upsetting’ journey which saw an upset Harvey lash out in the car
Harvey (pictured in 2021) has been attending and living at specialist institution National Star in Cheltenham since 2021, but amid cut to funding and Katie’s financial woes was almost withdrawn from the school last year
However thankfully Harvey was able to stay at the school and in December Katie shared a snap of her son proudly holding up his letter to Santa which revealed his college triumphs
‘I have been really trying to use my words, Santa. I hope this makes you so proud.
‘As I have been so good this year at National Star College can Harvey Price please have extra presents. Love you Santa. From Harvey Price.’
The post – shared with Twinkl Resources lessons plans – was captioned: ‘My letter to Santa (Santa emoji)’.
In June, the mother-of-five revealed she fears that her son – whose father is former footballer Dwight York – will be moved into social care.
Katie was Harvey primary caregiver until he turned 19. Since 2021, he’s been living independently at the specialist further education institute National Star College.
For Harvey to attend the residential college, it relies on much administration and the local authority agreeing to finance it.
The college puts in a funding application to Katie’s local authority which details everything they are going to provide for Harvey. For all-year round residential care, this can be up to £300,000 to £350,000 a year.
The decision is made by the local authority who decide whether to fund it or pick somewhere more local. Katie has to ensure his Education Health and Care Plan (ECHP) – a legally binding document detailing his required support – is up to date.
