Worcestershire children with special educational needs face a crucial period as the next few months determines their academic future. Education reporter, Dan Kendrick lays out both sides of the emotional debate surrounding Worcester's special schools.

THE consultation period is under way and the future of Worcester's special schools is in the balance.

This may sound melodramatic but, to parents who have seen the daily benefits of the nursery assessment unit at Thornton House or Manor Park School, their closure would be little short of a tragedy.

Parents have also opposed plans to create generic schools at Thornton House for those with SEN between the ages of two and 11 and Rose Hill School for 11 to 19-year-olds.

The council will have a tough job convincing parents about the cuts, which for once are not prompted by a lack of funding.

Firstly, the Local Education Authority forecasts that the number of pupils requiring special schools will fall by more than 100 in the near future.

Secondly, it backs a move towards 'centres of excellence' and resource centres that support mainstream schools, rather than educate those with SEN separately.

The current dual placement policy sees some pupils split the school week between special schools and mainstream environment a scheme the LEA is looking to extend.

Pam Gough's four-year-old son Carter, who is autistic, does exactly this spending 10 hours in a 'normal' learning environment and the rest of the school week at Thornton House.

It's working well and the LEA raised his hours in mainstream schools from six-and-three-quarters to 10 hours because he loves it so much, said Mrs Gough.

Thornton House gives the best academic education for someone with autism while he is also learning and developing socially in a mainstream environment.

Finally, Worcestershire County Council spent almost two years reviewing the status of special schools based on Government legislation and advice.

In 1994, the Salamanca Statement" said all children should be in regular schools "unless there are compelling reasons otherwise.

The council has therefore been studying SEN provision in Worcestershire to streamline special schools by moving all but the most severely challenged pupils into "normal" schools.

The more recent Disability Discrimination Act, amended in 2001, added that inclusive education should be offered in mainstream schools "where this is consistent with parental preference.

However, therein lies the problem.

Parents across the country have reacted with horror to the proposals and many have suggested "compelling" reasons to maintain the current provision.

For example, the plan to increase dual placements and ultimately move as many pupils as possible away from full-time special schools has its pitfalls.

In theory it has worked fantastically for Carter, but in a mainstream school, he needs one-to-one teaching and, though the support worker he has is great, she has no experience with autism, said Mrs Gough.

She is desperate to learn, but there is not the time or money to send her for training, so Carter needs Thornton House, which is set up perfectly for children with his needs.

Parental preference is clear and it is not in support of changing what government inspectors labelled an "excellent" system.

No decision has yet been made and the LEA is visiting each school in turn as part of the consultation process with a meeting at Thornton House pencilled in for March 16.

Jan Hodgson, whose six-year-old son Tavis is passive autistic with speech and language difficulties, will be there to argue against the NAU's closure.

When I was first told about his SEN it came as a terrible blow, because you always hope that your child will be healthy and 'normal', said Mrs Hodgson, from Lower Wick, Worcester.

The staff at the NAU helped with the diagnosis, speech and language therapy and the complicated business of statementing. He was encouraged to socialise, to form good routines and his speech improved 200 per cent.

The staff have a unique understanding of the problems of the autistic child, which can be very varied.

I was horrified to hear of the councils plans and I suggest the councillors spend a serious amount of time at each of the schools.

The proposals come just months before Cliffey House School, near Hanley Castle for pupils with moderate learning difficulties and autism is also due to close.

The staff in special schools are so dedicated, experienced and well trained that to lose even more would be a tragedy. The reason parents place their children in special schools is because it is the best place for them. Tavis would be lost in a mainstream school, added Mrs Hodgson.

The consultation period, which ends in April, will be difficult as the council's political stance tries to accommodate the emotional point of view of the parents.