North Yorkshire education bosses have sought to reassure parents of primary school aged pupils receiving support from enhanced mainstream schools (EMS) who have been left stunned by a move to radically change the system.
The parents, whose names are being withheld, said they had been shellshocked after a meeting with their child’s headteacher this week having been told that “not only my son’s EMS, but all EMSs across the whole of North Yorkshire are due to close next year”.
EMSs are attached to mainstream schools and provide support and outreach to other ‘home’ schools and settings in their area and, in most cases, has a number of places reserved for pupils with specific types of special educational needs.
One parent said: “I know from support groups that there are thousands of children within the area who rely upon EMS support to secure their child’s place within the home school.
“When I asked the question as to where this left my son, the headteacher and the special educational needs co-ordinator for the school were unable to answer.”
Parents have also claimed, unlike with the council’s Pupil Referral Unit changes, there has been a lack of information provided about the EMS changes, and further that the changes have been “kept under wraps”.
In response, Jane le Sage, the authority’s assistant director for inclusion, said changes in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision had been approved last September so SEND children are able to attend their nearest most appropriate school or setting.
She said: “By September 2020 we intend to establish 31 EMSs across the county, more than we currently have, which will provide places for small groups of children and young people with a focus on those with social, emotional and mental health needs and those with communication and interaction needs.
“These schools will also be supported with enhanced training and access to increased therapeutic support for their children from educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, play/arts therapists and occupational therapists.”
Ms le Sage said the new provisions would provide for small groups of eight children – the majority with education, health and care plans but there will also be some more flexible places for children that require specific interventions or require an assessment place.
She added to provide a more comprehensive service, the council was restructuring some SEND services so multi-disciplinary teams could be based around the county to provide outreach work to support some children with significant need. This outreach support will begin next April and the new EMS provision in September 2020.
“The changes are all described in the strategic plan and were subject to a full public consultation before the plan was finalised.
“We would be more than willing to talk to parents and carers groups about the new enhanced model if that would be helpful.”
Be the first to comment