A mother left devastated by the Government’s decision to pull funding for a free school in Bradford only days before it was due to open now fears her 11-year-old disabled son will be unable to cope at a mainstream school.

Janet East said she had been in floods of tears since the Department for Education announced it would not be funding the One in a Million Free School based at Bradford City’s Valley Parade ground for at least 12 months.

She has now raised a petition urging the DfE to reconsider.

It is understood there have been Government concerns over the school’s pupil recruitment figures, which stood at 30, and viability.

The One in a Million charity yesterday said it had been left “baffled and stunned” by the decision, saying it had met all the conditions laid down to it.

Mrs East and the parents of the other 29 pupils expected to attend the school have been left scrabbling to find alternative places for the start of the academic year next week.

Mrs East, of Idle , said: “My son has multiple special needs.

“We put James’s name down for One in a Million and on the transition day he was great.

“Even his painful legs did not let him down when he tried the sport, and the music and dance are just what James needs.

“The staff are upbeat and positive and James took to them straight away.

“This is unusual for him as he does not have any social skills, he does not interact in a positive way, he does not understand the niceties of socialising but at One in a Million this was understood and we became excited at the prospect of him starting there.

“So can you imagine our shock and disgust and devastation when we heard that the DfE have decided not to fund this brilliant future.

“I cried for two whole days.

“We are all in shock. I have not managed to draw up the courage to tell James yet.

“I cannot sit back and allow this to happen without a fight. I know that on my own I am powerless but I have tried to gather up support.

“I have stayed at home for the past six years to care for James and thought this school was so competent that this was my turn to return to do a nursing degree and I was accepted on the course, now I may not be able to take up that offer.”

Richard Barrett’s son Josh was originally due to start at Whitcliffe Mount School in Cleckheaton before he transferred to the One In A Million School when he moved in with his father in Thackley .

Mr Barrett, 41, said: “We are looking for a school in Bradford today for Josh.

“I was absolutely gutted – they have done amazing work and the school’s all done up. There’s quite a few people who have lost their jobs as well.

“I’m waiting for admissions at Bradford Council to get in touch with us and hopefully we will be able to find something, but I’ve heard all the schools in Thackley and around this area are over-subscribed.”

Shadow Education Secretary Stephen Twigg MP said the last-minute decision had made Education Secretary Michael Gove look “increasingly incompetent”.

Former professional footballer Wayne Jacobs , who is co-founder of the One in a Million charity, said: “We are completely baffled and stunned at this decision and absolutely devastated for the parents, children and staff.”

One in a Million chief executive Matthew Band said the team had met all the DfE conditions.

He said: “Obviously we are amazed at this decision, particularly at such a late stage.

“Although ‘low’ student numbers have been cited and we have had to watch some parents walk away due to the insecurity surrounding Funding Agreement and Facility acquisition, as a small school we still have nearly two-thirds of our places filled with 30 students committed to start on September 3.

“It just doesn’t make sense and we don’t know of any other Free School that has been put in this position with a week to opening.

Mr Band said the charity would consider a deferred opening in September 2013.

He added: “Although we do not agree with the decision made by the DfE, and no matter how disappointing it is, we will now work closely this week with the local authority admissions team in Bradford to ensure that all our children are placed in an appropriate school.

“No doubt in the fullness of time we will find out the real reason for what has just happened and will consider our position but we are determined to take this forward if at all possible and will pursue whatever avenues are open to us to make the One in a Million Free School a successful reality.”

A Department for Educa-tion spokesman repeated its hope that the One in a Million school would be ready to open in 2013.

e-mail: dolores.cowburn@telegraphandargus.co.uk