The parents of a young girl have been warned by her school over her "unauthorised absences" - even though she has a brain tumour.
Five-year-old Leah Gillon, known as Lilly, was diagnosed with an ependymoma tumour four years ago.
She underwent pioneering proton therapy in America as well as surgery to remove the tumour at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Aher cancer is incurable and the tumour may return at any time, reports the Birmingham Mail.
Last year Lilly attended just 67 per cent of classes at Warren Farm Primary School in Kingstanding, a fact her parents claim is due to her illness because she underwent two surgeries and scores of hospital appointments.
But the school says that her attendance could improve and that she is well enough to attend school trips.
The primary school, which Lilly’s two sisters Kacie and Chelsey also attend, sent a letter home, stating they would no longer be authorising her absence unless her parents provided medical proof.
Dad Graham said: “Lil needs time off for hospital appointments.
"Already in the last two weeks she has had three.
"Sickness is a reasonable excuse to be off school and Lil has a number of issues with her health, not least that she has been battling cancer for the last three and a half years.”
Mum Cherie and Graham claim the school told them that there was ‘nothing wrong with Lilly’ and her absence from school was down to them.
“I was disgusted,” said Graham, 38.
“They said that Lilly didn’t have a brain tumour and there was nothing wrong with her, that her absence was only down to us.
"It was totally unacceptable.
“She is shortly to have her three-monthly MRI scan to check if the tumour has come back – we live our lives three months at a time.”
A school spokesperson said: “Whilst mindful of the severe health issues Leah has faced in the past, we dispute the family’s version of events.
“Despite her frequent hospital appointments which are taken into account, we have independent medical advice that clearly states Leah is considered tumour-free.
“As a school we are only doing the responsible thing by reminding the family of their obligations.”