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Staffordshire special schools face residential care cuts | Staffordshire special schools face residential care cuts |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Cutting funds for overnight beds at special schools will have a devastating impact on children, families have said. | Cutting funds for overnight beds at special schools will have a devastating impact on children, families have said. |
Thousands have signed a petition calling on Staffordshire County Council not to withdraw money from five schools used to pay for more than 200 places. | Thousands have signed a petition calling on Staffordshire County Council not to withdraw money from five schools used to pay for more than 200 places. |
A BBC investigation earlier this year found it was among more than 100 local authorities that had overspent on special needs budgets in 2018-19. | A BBC investigation earlier this year found it was among more than 100 local authorities that had overspent on special needs budgets in 2018-19. |
The council said it did not have a "legal duty" to fund the £1.8m service. | The council said it did not have a "legal duty" to fund the £1.8m service. |
It is one of many local authorities to have reported severe financial pressures on special needs budgets and has seen a big increase in the number of young people requiring support. | It is one of many local authorities to have reported severe financial pressures on special needs budgets and has seen a big increase in the number of young people requiring support. |
David Bownds, head teacher of Loxley Hall school, in Uttoxeter, warned the saving could lead to closure and would harm the "most vulnerable". | David Bownds, head teacher of Loxley Hall school, in Uttoxeter, warned the saving could lead to closure and would harm the "most vulnerable". |
About 209 children stay over throughout the week at Horton Lodge Community Special School, in Rudyard; Cicely Haughton, in Wetley Rocks; Walton Hall Academy, Eccleshall; Saxon Hill Academy, Lichfield; and Loxley Hall. | About 209 children stay over throughout the week at Horton Lodge Community Special School, in Rudyard; Cicely Haughton, in Wetley Rocks; Walton Hall Academy, Eccleshall; Saxon Hill Academy, Lichfield; and Loxley Hall. |
The BBC spoke to people who would be affected by the funding cut, which is set to take effect from next September. | The BBC spoke to people who would be affected by the funding cut, which is set to take effect from next September. |
'Another thing that's being denied to disabled children' | 'Another thing that's being denied to disabled children' |
Lachlan Kirkup is eight years old and has physical and learning disabilities. | Lachlan Kirkup is eight years old and has physical and learning disabilities. |
Once a week he stays overnight at Horton Lodge school and has, according to mum Ali Brown, "flourished" because of it. | Once a week he stays overnight at Horton Lodge school and has, according to mum Ali Brown, "flourished" because of it. |
For Lachlan, who is non-verbal, the service has been vital. | For Lachlan, who is non-verbal, the service has been vital. |
"He's not being taught how to pass exams... he's being taught how to be as independent as he possibly can be in the world," said Ms Brown. | "He's not being taught how to pass exams... he's being taught how to be as independent as he possibly can be in the world," said Ms Brown. |
"[How] to wash, what to have for breakfast, how to interact with his peers. He's begun to feed himself, which is mammoth. | "[How] to wash, what to have for breakfast, how to interact with his peers. He's begun to feed himself, which is mammoth. |
"Scouts and sleepovers are not accessible for Lachlan... here he can benefit from the typical things that eight-year-olds do." | "Scouts and sleepovers are not accessible for Lachlan... here he can benefit from the typical things that eight-year-olds do." |
Ms Brown added she could see he felt "safe and happy" when staying overnight. | Ms Brown added she could see he felt "safe and happy" when staying overnight. |
"It's just another thing that's being denied to disabled children. Our most vulnerable children just seem to be the ones who are getting services cut." | "It's just another thing that's being denied to disabled children. Our most vulnerable children just seem to be the ones who are getting services cut." |
'He's more self assured, and a little bit calmer' | 'He's more self assured, and a little bit calmer' |
"R", 12, who has behavioural problems, would be confused and think it was "his fault" if the overnight service at Loxley Hall closed down, said foster parent Mike Day, from Stone. | |
"It may set him back in school with relationships. I would be disappointed by the lost opportunity," said Mr Day, who thought it would be impossible to replicate the experiences his ward got from it. | |
"R" has been staying one night a week at Loxley Hall, where staff have supported him and other children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. They have shared meals and rooms and taken part in group activities. | |
"He's desperate to have friends and his skills for friendship need to be improved," said Mr Day. | "He's desperate to have friends and his skills for friendship need to be improved," said Mr Day. |
"Since he's been going to stay over he is a little bit more self-assured, a little bit calmer. He's more able to learn and to recognise some of the strengths and characteristics of pupils around him." | "Since he's been going to stay over he is a little bit more self-assured, a little bit calmer. He's more able to learn and to recognise some of the strengths and characteristics of pupils around him." |
'I wouldn't be where I am in life' | 'I wouldn't be where I am in life' |
Jordan Beech, 17, is now in full-time employment but believes he would not have achieved this without his time in residential support at Loxley Hall. | Jordan Beech, 17, is now in full-time employment but believes he would not have achieved this without his time in residential support at Loxley Hall. |
"Sometimes in the classroom I struggled to concentrate, residence enabled me to learn but in a different environment... now I am reaping the rewards," he said. | "Sometimes in the classroom I struggled to concentrate, residence enabled me to learn but in a different environment... now I am reaping the rewards," he said. |
Jordan was able to work on his handwriting and spelling in the more relaxed environment, while practising cooking, washing and creating his own routines. | Jordan was able to work on his handwriting and spelling in the more relaxed environment, while practising cooking, washing and creating his own routines. |
"Accessing residence enabled me to gain confidence in social situations and now I have more confidence when communicating with others." | "Accessing residence enabled me to gain confidence in social situations and now I have more confidence when communicating with others." |
Jordan has remained close to a friend he met in residence, and been attending a weekly college placement as part of his job. | Jordan has remained close to a friend he met in residence, and been attending a weekly college placement as part of his job. |
'It feels like our heart is being ripped out' | 'It feels like our heart is being ripped out' |
Mr Bownds said the "nonsensical" cut to Loxley Hall's £470,000-a-year service could result in "disengagement and increased social care costs" long term. | Mr Bownds said the "nonsensical" cut to Loxley Hall's £470,000-a-year service could result in "disengagement and increased social care costs" long term. |
"We focus on the most vulnerable with the largest deficit in emotional and social skills and understanding. Those are the ones who make the most progress," he said. | "We focus on the most vulnerable with the largest deficit in emotional and social skills and understanding. Those are the ones who make the most progress," he said. |
Many pupils have stayed over one night a week, with demand high for the school's 10 beds. | Many pupils have stayed over one night a week, with demand high for the school's 10 beds. |
"It isn't a respite provision. For us it's about developing the whole child," added Mr Bownds. | "It isn't a respite provision. For us it's about developing the whole child," added Mr Bownds. |
If Horton Lodge's £180,000-a-year "Kiplings" service closed, the impact on pupils, who have physical disabilities and additional learning needs, would be "devastating", said head teacher Sarah Latham. | If Horton Lodge's £180,000-a-year "Kiplings" service closed, the impact on pupils, who have physical disabilities and additional learning needs, would be "devastating", said head teacher Sarah Latham. |
"They'll become more isolated. They're not going to have those social opportunities with their friends." | "They'll become more isolated. They're not going to have those social opportunities with their friends." |
The unit has provided six-month placements for children on rotation, with 17 beds available over three nights. | The unit has provided six-month placements for children on rotation, with 17 beds available over three nights. |
"The skills we put in in Kiplings can't be replicated elsewhere... it does honestly feel that our heart is being ripped out," the head teacher said. | "The skills we put in in Kiplings can't be replicated elsewhere... it does honestly feel that our heart is being ripped out," the head teacher said. |
Dame Christine Lenehan, director of the Council for Disabled Children, said residential care at special schools helped guide children towards independence. | Dame Christine Lenehan, director of the Council for Disabled Children, said residential care at special schools helped guide children towards independence. |
"When funding is withdrawn and these opportunities disappear, the needs of the children and their families remain... the bottom line is that they must be met." | "When funding is withdrawn and these opportunities disappear, the needs of the children and their families remain... the bottom line is that they must be met." |
'Increasing numbers needing help' | 'Increasing numbers needing help' |
The number of young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Staffordshire has increased by a third in the past five years, the authority said. | The number of young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Staffordshire has increased by a third in the past five years, the authority said. |
"With increasing numbers... needing help and support we have to work with the limited budget we now have available," said Mark Sutton, cabinet member for children and young people. | "With increasing numbers... needing help and support we have to work with the limited budget we now have available," said Mark Sutton, cabinet member for children and young people. |
"Residential education provision doesn't form part of the Educational, Health and Care (EHC) plans for those children who attend special schools and is not something councils have a legal duty to provide." | "Residential education provision doesn't form part of the Educational, Health and Care (EHC) plans for those children who attend special schools and is not something councils have a legal duty to provide." |
The council said it would continue to pay until September 2020 to give schools time to look for alternative funding and consider other options. | The council said it would continue to pay until September 2020 to give schools time to look for alternative funding and consider other options. |
In 2018-19 the authority went £7.7m over its £72m allocation because of an increased number of specialist placements, mainstream exclusions and pupils needing an EHC plan. | In 2018-19 the authority went £7.7m over its £72m allocation because of an increased number of specialist placements, mainstream exclusions and pupils needing an EHC plan. |
Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone. | Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone. |
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