Parents fear for their vulnerable children's future if a special school is closed down.

Campaigners were speaking at a crucial meeting to discuss the Leas School in Clacton, which is threatened with closure.

Essex County Council wants to shut the Leas, which caters for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.

But an independent adjudicator was brought in when the Schools' Organisation Committee, which rubber stamps decisions, failed to reach a unanimous vote.

The county council wants to set up a centre of excellence for pupils with severe learning difficulties at Clacton's Windsor School. Some Leas pupils will go there while the rest go into mainstream education at Bishops Park College in the town.

But parents told the meeting the closure would have a detrimental affect on youngsters.

Parent-governor Rosemary Gibbons said: "The affect of changing schools for a child with special needs is absolutely devastating."

But the school's acting head, John Edwards, told parents it was the best option.

He said decreasing pupil numbers down from 150 in 1999 to 75 now would lead to severe cutbacks and force them to make specialised staff redundant.

The adjudicator will make a decision by September 24

Published Monday September 13, 2004

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