Ruth Kelly has defended her decision to send her son to a £15,000-a-year private school for pupils with learning difficulties.

She said she had decided to "do the right thing for my child" after receiving "professional advice" that he needed specialist support as soon as possible.

The communities secretary had been criticised by a number of Labour MPs for removing her child from the state sector, but has been backed by Downing Street.

She said her son would go on to a state secondary school.

"It is not uncommon for pupils with substantial learning difficulties to spend some time outside the state sector to help them progress - sometimes this is paid for by the local authority.

"in my case, I have not and will not seek the help of the local authority in meeting these costs."

No 10 had earlier criticised the press's handling of the story and said the prime minister "supports absolutely" the right of any parent to make choices about their children's education.

Kelly had been criticised by a number of backbenchers, with Ian Gibson saying the decision was a "slap in the face" for the state school the child had been removed from.

But Kelly appeared to have the full backing of the government, with education secretary Alan Johnson refusing to comment on her decision.

The story first appeared in the Mail on Sunday, which avoided naming the minister, school or type of learning difficulty in order to protect the child's identity.

But Monday's Mirror named Kelly, a former education secretary, as the minister in question.

The prime minister's official spokesman said: "Firstly, there are rules around children. I will observe them, even if some others don't.

"Secondly, what the prime minister supports absolutely is the right of parents to make choices about their children's education which are best suited to their children's needs irrespective of who their parents are or what job they do."

He said individual decisions on special schools closures was "a local matter", but maintained "we have never had a programme of special school closures".

The spokesman added the rate of closure had slowed down under this government, and that councils are told only to make closures where higher quality alternatives have been made available.

Gibson had said the minister should "set an example" and support their local state school.

Fellow MP Lynne Jones said it "makes me wonder about the sort of people who achieve high office under New Labour".

Current education secretary Alan Johnson refused to comment on the matter. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I'm not going to talk about personal issues involving a colleague and her child without any indication of what the facts are."

Conservative leader David Cameron, asked about the story by GMTV, said he did not think the minister's decision was hypocritical.

"Some people are going to say it's hypocrisy. Well, if they were going to abolish private education then it would be hypocrisy, but they're not," he said.

"People should recognise that politicians, like everyone else, are parents first and will act in the best interests of their children."

He said he hoped to send his own son, who   suffers from cerebral palsy, to state school.

Trade and industry Margaret Hodge acknowledged there was a public interest in the story.

She told Sunday Live on Sky News: "I think, given our commitment to state education, it is an issue of public interest.

"However, I think the paramount importance is maintaining privacy for children."

Liberal Democrat education secretary Sarah Teather said it was unfair to criticise a parent for choices they made for their individual child.

But she said: "I do hope Ruth and her colleagues will reflect on her personal experience and recognise hers was not a unique situation.

"Lots of parents find themselves in the same position, with local services unable to provide for their children with the support they need."