You want to save school

The Poole mother of a 25-year-old who had learning difficulties and severe behavioural problems as a child says her son would probably have ended up in a young offenders' institution had he not been sent to a special school.

A Bournemouth mother of a 20-year-old with special needs says her son was temporarily sent to boarding school at age eight due to a lack of local special schools, which she claims proved disastrous.

Education bosses at County Hall have recommended that the Dorset school closes next year, but cabinet will make a final decision early next month.

The proposal to close the school is not motivated by money, say education bosses, but because they believe inclusion is the way forward and that mainstream schools are now better prepared to cope with children with behavioural problems.

But a mother from Lytchett Minster, whose son went to another special school, said in a letter to the Echo: "My son had learning difficulties and severe behavioural problems. He couldn't cope in mainstream school because he was the odd one out.

"But at Slades Farm all the children had the same problems. Before he went there he learnt nothing because he spent most of his time sitting in the corridor outside the classroom.

"Special needs schools do a marvellous job and without them my son would probably have spent his teenage years in a young offenders' institution because he was so out of control.

"But Slades Farm turned him around and today he is a lovely young man of 25 who has never been unemployed, works harder than most lads his age and earns more money than his siblings.

"Other children should not be denied the same opportunities."

A Bournemouth mum from Firbank Road agrees. Her son was sent to boarding school when he was eight.

"This proved disastrous and he did not settle in at all.

"Instead of closing special schools, they should be opening more," she said.

First published: August 27