PARENTS today vowed to stand together and fight a threat hanging over four special schools.

The declaration came after the first formal meeting between parents, governors and headteachers of Broadlands Nursery, Blackamoor, Dame Evelyn Fox and Crosshill special schools and members of Blackburn with Darwen Council.

The meeting launched a lengthy consultation process which will look at three proposals recommended to members of the education and training committe in January by a review group set up in April last year.

The three proposals, aimed at improving provision and expertise for special needs children in mainstream schools, are:

To close Dame Evelyn Fox and Blackamoor and open one school for children with complex learning difficulties aged two to 19-years-old.

To either retain Crosshills as a school for children with moderate learning difficulties aged five to 16-years-old or close the primary department and create a secondary school for children with moderate learning difficulties aged 11 to 16.

To maintain provision at Broadlands Nursery but invite views on how it could be better organised.

Parents are angry that children could be forced to attend a mainstream school or go to a special school not suitable for their needs.

Parent governor and chairperson of the action group at Crosshills, Jean Nicholson, has a 13-year-old son with dyslexia and learning difficulties and attended the meeting on Saturday.

She said: "What came from it was that the parents will stand together and fight these proposals all the way. We already have an action group at Crosshills and we will be getting together with the members of a similar group set up at Blackamoor. We also hope to organise a meeting for all parents to attend.

"As a parent I would like my son to be integrated in a mainstream school and that possibility is constantly being monitored at Crosshills but I feel these proposals are a step backwards for us. "Children will end up sitting in a corner being ridiculed because they can't fasten their shoelaces or go to the toilet on their own or go to a school for those with complex difficulties and be thoroughly miserable.

"And as far as I am concerned it is immoral to lump children with special needs together. It's disgusting. My son is happy at Crosshills, confident and full of self-esteem. He doesn't think there's anything wrong with him and I don't think he would survive elsewhere."

Another parent against the proposals does not wish to be named because he has a daughter in her 20s who is fighting to live away from the stigma of having special needs.

He said: "If we did away with the five football leagues and made all the teams play each other we would be in a situation where some would win 25-nil every week.

"The reason for divisions is because different people have different capabilities and it is the same for special schools.

"These kiddies are people, they are human beings and not something to save a few pounds on.

"They deserve the help given to an excellent standard in these four special schools."

Jill Baker, assistant director of education at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said they would now be holding meetings for parents with children at individual schools.

She added: "Nothing has been decided yet as this is a lengthy process which will eventually go back before the committee for members to decide if they want to go ahead. If that is the case there is still a lengthy legal process which follows."

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