A closed school could be used as a centre for pupils with behavioural problems.

Chapel Hill Primary School in Braintree closed in June after a long-fought battle by parents, staff, pupils and governors.

Building work is currently under way to allow Chapel Hill Nursery to move into the main school building.

Work is also being carried out to enable the Local Education Authority's behaviour support service to use part of the building.

Brooks Newmark, deputy chairman of governors, said he was concerned about the proposal.

"I have deep reservations about taking children of a secondary school age with personal issues, such as bad language, who have tantrums and throw things around, and mixing them with little children."

A spokesman for Essex County Council confirmed the temporary plans for the school, which include preparing it for the nursery school and the behavioural unit.

He said: "It is a flexible service which aims to encourage children with behavioural difficulties to acclimatise themselves to being in school."

Published Thursday October 17, 2002

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