The future of a special needs school in Thundersley is safe, a leading county councillor insisted
Cedar Hall School was thrust into the spotlight when disgruntled mother Maria Hutchings challenged Prime Minister Tony Blair on a live televison debate.
Mrs Hutchings, of Romsey Road, Benfleet, said the school was under constant threat of closure because of the Goverment's policy of including special needs pupils into mainstream education.
But Tracey Chapman, cabinet member for children and families at Essex County Council, denied there was any threat of closure hanging over the school in Hart Road.
She said:"There's absolutely no threat of Cedar Hall closing at all, certainly when I'm in charge.
"If anything we are trying to grow the services we provide there.
"Last year we put through the new model social services policy and we are trying to find ways of bolstering services there."
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