One of Southend's special needs schools may close as the service undergoes a radical review, an MP has predicted.

Sir Teddy Taylor , Southend East and Rochford Conservative MP, assured parents that children with special needs would not be "forced to move from our excellent special schools" into mainstream schools.

However, one of the borough's five special needs schools could shut as more parents opt for mainstream education for their children, he said.

Southend Council's consultation paper, Towards Inclusion, presents parents with far-reaching options for the future of special education in the borough.

It contains pioneering school merger options and discusses the possibility of integrating children with special needs into mainstream schools.

But the 69-page document, launched on June 28, also contains controversial school closure options which have caused uproar amongst many parents.

Sir Teddy said: "In a nutshell, it appears to me that there is no question whatsoever of children with special educational needs being forced to move from our excellent special schools.

"But Southend is right to seek to meet the preferences of those parents who do want mainstream places - and their numbers are increasing.

"This, together with the reduction in referrals from the county, does mean that one of the five schools could close.

However, no decisions have been made and I know that there are many who consider that the unique record of achievement of the schools and the special standards which they have produced would make that a difficult decision."

The schools had received first-class Ofsted report, said Sir Teddy, and referred to a "genuine alarm" amongst his constituents about their children's future in other schools.

He said: "Government consultation documents have added to the problem with comments which give the impression that children with special needs will be taken out of the special schools and be forced into mainstream education.

"I would like to give the clearest possible assurances that these fears are misplaced."

He added: "The reason for the review is that since Southend achieved its independence from Essex, and took over responsibility for education, it is clearly vital that the position of our special needs schools should be reviewed.

"There is much in the consultation paper which is not about schools closures and it would be a pity if these areas were not debated."

Parents' reactions to the consultation are now being received by Southend Council, including parents' own suggestions, and will be considered by officers on September 29.

By Chris Weeks

Reporter's e-mail: chris.weeks@notes.newsquest.co.uk

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