Specialist school units saved from the axe in Mid Wales
Specialist units for children with additional learning needs in primary schools in Mid Wales have been saved from the axe.
Powys County Council's cabinet voted through a council officer recommendation that it should not to proceed with the closure of the pre-school assessment centres nor specialist units.
In February the council announced that it intended closing all 18 specialists support centres for children with additional learning needs based within primary schools, as well as four pre-assessment centres, from September 1 this year.
But now the council has said it will not close any units at this time.
The initial proposals sparked anger from parents who launched a campaign. After the meeting parents expressed their delight on a Facebook page, Hands Off Our Specialist Units Powys.
One of the campaigners Cerys Owen said the unanimous vote by councillors at yesterday's meeting had been welcomed by those who had travelled to the meeting.
"Champagne was drunk outside county hall," she said.
Lisa Rapado, another of the campaigners, said: "Power to the people, HOOSUP has changed the course of educational history in Powys. Victory is ours."
The council received 719 responses to its consultation held between February and March, and a report based on the responses was published before yesterday's meeting.
Councillor Graham Brown, a member of Powys County Council's cabinet, said: The Estyn inspection of Powys local authority education services for children and young people in 2011 and the re-inspection in October 2012 found important shortcomings in additional learning needs services.
"The recent Estyn monitoring visit which took place between May 19 and 22 this year judged Powys County Council to have made sufficient progress to be removed from being 'in need of significant improvement' and any further follow up activity," he said.
"There is a significant workforce development programme in place for teachers and support staff in schools and settings.
"The authority appreciates the time and effort taken by all who have responded to the consultation and recognises and respects the views and concerns of parents and carers whose children are in receipt of enhanced provision."
