Tameside Parents Furious Over Council’s Plan to Close Autism Unit
Parents in Tameside are outraged by the council’s proposal to shut down a vital autism support unit for children
Tameside, Autism, Education, Denton, SEND
Tameside: Parents are really upset about the council wanting to close a unit for kids with autism. They’re calling it a total disgrace.
This unit is at St John Fisher RC Primary School in Denton and helps seven children right now. Parents feel like this is just a money-saving move.
One mom, Sarah MacPhail, said everyone is “fuming” about the plan. She believes it’s all about cutting costs, which isn’t fair to the kids.
The council claims they’re looking into the bigger picture for special education needs across Tameside. They say they want to create more places and invest in better support for kids with SEND.
Interestingly, 24 other schools are interested in starting new units, but that doesn’t help the current situation.
Sarah mentioned that the Denton unit is crucial for kids with autism. It helps them transition between mainstream and specialized education.
With smaller classes and more staff, kids can learn better and still interact with their peers at the main school.
Her son had a tough time in a regular classroom, but since moving to the unit, he’s made huge progress. He went from hiding under tables to actively participating in class.
If the closure goes through, no new kids will be accepted starting September, but the ones already there can stay until they finish primary school.
The council says this change would let the school use the space for its own SEND students, but parents are worried about the implications.
Sarah feels this is a push to force SEND kids into mainstream schools where they won’t get the support they need. She insists they need more resources, not less.
Another parent, Claire Hannah, praised the unit for helping her son make friends and grow over three years. She’s frustrated that both the school and council seem to want to cut this vital service.
A joint statement from the council and school said they’re committed to keeping kids close to home for schooling. They’re also reviewing how many SEND places are needed in Tameside.
The consultation period ends on February 9, so parents are hoping their voices will be heard before any final decisions are made.