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Parents protest over proposed special schools shake-up

Protest: Parents, pupils, staff and unions protest at Belfast City Hall to save special needs schools after it was announced that schools could be merged 	 	 Picture: Hugh Russell
Protest: Parents, pupils, staff and unions protest at Belfast City Hall to save special needs schools after it was announced that schools could be merged Picture: Hugh Russell Protest: Parents, pupils, staff and unions protest at Belfast City Hall to save special needs schools after it was announced that schools could be merged Picture: Hugh Russell

A SHAKE-UP of special education, which could see some schools shut, is putting money ahead of children, it has been claimed.

Plans by the Education Authority (EA) could see some well-known schools in Belfast closed or merged.

The EA has said it will only decide whether to progress after full consideration of a wide range of views. This includes a consultation with parents.

Ahead of this, a group of parents, pupils, staff and unions staged a protest at Belfast City Hall yesterday. The rally, which was also attended by politicians, heard from pupils who spoke about how they had flourished at their schools.

No plans have been made public but it is understood the EA wants to create three larger special schools in the city within two years. There are 10 schools at present.

All would be expected to admit pupils from 3-19 with a range of disabilities and children would go to the one closest to them, to reduce transport time and costs.

Analysis by the EA revealed that 15.4 per cent of pupils in Belfast go to their nearest special school compared to the Northern Ireland average of 46 per cent.

Fleming Fulton School, which educates young people with physical disabilities could be brought together with Glenveagh Special School for those with severe learning difficulties.

Harberton School for pupils with moderate learning difficulties and the nearby Oakwood, which caters for those with severe difficulties, could also amalgamate.

Veronica Cosgrove's seven-year-old daughter Caoimhe Shannon, who has Ohdo Syndrome and other disabilities, attends Oakwood.

"Under these new arrangements, special needs children will attend the school closest to their home and won't have a choice. This is a money saving exercise and parents believe our children's education and choice of school is priceless," she said.

"In a school so big the children's individual needs could not possibly be met. Due to the specific needs of the majority of these children they need routine, consistency and familiarity and don't cope well with change. These are the most vulnerable children in our society and they have already been affected by cuts to their therapies and respite."

The EA said the proposals were in line with its overall plans "to transform education services for the benefit of all of our children".

Young people currently placed in special schools in Belfast will not be impacted. If the proposals are approved, there would be phased implementation.

Dr Clare Mangan, the EA's director of children and young people's services, has written to say the proposals would be subject to wide ranging consultation including parents.

"After the Easter holidays, further engagement is planned with governors, staff, and parents as well as teaching and non-teaching unions," she said.