PARENTS of children at three special needs schools in North and West Wiltshire are up in arms about plans to close them and build a new super-school at Rowde near Devizes.

Wiltshire Council is holding a briefing later today (Monday, November 12) when it is expected to announce full details of its multi-million pound plans to close the schools and concentrate special needs provision at Rowde.

The move would see special needs schools at St Nicholas in Chippenham, Larkrise in Trowbridge and at Rowdeford near Devizes closing in four to five years’ time.

It is understood that a new super-school catering for up to 350 special needs children would be built on land in Rowde by 2022 or 2023.

The council opened a consultation into the future of special schools in May, when it said it needed to make plans for the future in order to provide for the increasing number of pupils requiring special needs education.

The Wiltshire Council Cabinet will be asked to ratify the proposal at a meeting on Tuesday, November 27. It is understood the proposal does not include post-16 provision.

Local MP Dr Andrew Murrison, has already tweeted urging the Council to “rethink” its proposal.

Phil Cook, head teacher of Larkrise School, said: “We know that something has to happen in terms of capacity but this is not the solution that we wanted.”

Mr Cook was busy briefing staff today after hearing the news at a confidential briefing last Friday. Already, the prospect of Larkrise School closing has alarmed parents with children there.

They say that special needs children are vulnerable and having to travel to a school further away could upset their education and social development.

Emily Wadd, of Trowbridge, said: “I am extremely disappointed and angry that Wiltshire Council have decided to recommend the closure of Larkrise Special Needs School in Trowbridge and the move to a new school in Rowde near Devizes.

“It's not so much the extra travelling each day that is the issue although this will have a very negative impact on many of the children. It is the fact that the new school will be in the middle of nowhere.

“Our children will be bussed or driven by parents, which seems to be the Council’s new preference if the current Special Schools Transport Consultation is anything to go by, to a village with no local facilities. To access any shops, leisure facilities, sports facilities they will have to travel yet again. It is like they are being hidden away.

“Larkrise pupils are currently seen daily in and around Trowbridge, their local community. They are getting to know the people of the town and equally important Trowbridge residents are getting to know them.

“For our children this is tremendously important as they are likely to stay within the local area for the rest of their lives. If people know them they will look out for them and this all helps to break down prejudices.

“I also feel terribly sorry for all the wonderful staff at Larkrise who could lose their jobs. Many will be unable to travel to Rowde each day so years of experience will be lost. I am struggling to see how the Council will replace them and so our children will suffer again.

“Larkrise School is too small we know that but we need a new Larkrise in Trowbridge not 12 miles away.”

Sarah Fleming, of Silver Street Lane, Trowbridge, whose son Charlie, six, attends Larkrise School, said: “I am absolutely disgusted at what the council is proposing to do.

“Parents found out over the weekend on social media. That’s not how we should have been told.

“It could have potentially catastrophic effects on these children. I know from my own experience, my son does not like travelling.

“These children are used to their schools and their teachers. Children with special needs do not do well in big classes.

“My son’s class has only nine children. He does not cope well with lots of people.

“Children with special needs don’t cope well with change and this will have a big impact on the children.

“What are the council going to do about it. They are not the ones looking after the children.

“They will have meltdowns because they will not understand why they can’t go to their old schools.

“There will be teachers there that they don’t know. It’s just so sad. We’re not asking for the earth.

“We know that Larkrise School is not big enough and is going to have to make way for a new school.

“But why can’t they build a new school in Trowbridge. This is the county town and we’ve got hardly anything.

“They keep picking on the disabled who have no voice but we are their voices. They can’t speak for themselves so we are going to have to do it for them.

“Wiltshire Council’s motto is Where Everybody Matters – but in this case that’s not the case.”