Brighton special schools to merge from six to three

The charity says some schools are struggling to provide high-quality teaching and support

Six special schools are to be merged into three as part of a programme of changes to children's services in Brighton aimed at saving £13.5m.

The plans, to be implemented over four years, will also change support in mainstream schools for children with special educational needs (SEN).

City councillor Tom Berwick denied the cuts were driven by spending and said there would be no cuts in SEN teaching.

But some parents claim they have not been kept sufficiently informed.

Brighton and Hove City Council is consulting on the plans before its Children and Young People Board with a final decision being made in January.

How six schools will become three

Brighton and Hove has 430 children in special schools, some of which are under subscribed.

Another 500 children who have SEN statements are in mainstream schools.

Under the changes, Hillside and Downs Park will merge, Cedar Centre, Patcham House and Homewood College will merge and Downs View will expand, creating three larger special schools.

Jeanne Saunders nursery and its satellite East Hill Park will close with special provision moving to a mainstream nursery site.

Teachers' union the NUT said it had been told services for autism, sensory needs, language, literacy and pre-school support would no longer exist in their current form.

SEN spokeswoman Sadie Gillett said the changes could mean teachers' caseloads increasing from 67 to 114 children.

"I would really like some clarification of how it's going to work if you've got less teacher-level jobs," she said.

Jennifer Neal, who has two daughters with autism, said it was "scary" that parents had no idea what was happening.

Ms Neal said she did not feel the changes to SEN services had been properly explained.

"It is actually scary to feel you are going to lose an advocate that's so helpful for your child," she said.

Mr Berwick said the changes were not driven by spending cuts, though merging the schools would save money.

"There will be no cut in the actual service provision for those with special educational needs," he said.

"This is about transforming and modernising the way we deliver services to this very important group.

"We have got to defend the services, not necessarily the structures or the buildings, and think differently about how we deliver the services."