26 September 2007
We received a petition asking:
"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Save Our Pre-School."
Details of Petition:
"Laleham Gap Pre-school has been successfully running for 18 years to help almost 400 children with speech,language and communication difficulties. Due to their specific needs being met most of the children we have helped have made a successful transition into mainstream school. From Friday 29th June we were informed by phone that our beloved unit will close. We have been told future children with these difficulties will have to cope in school and that their needs will be met there..!?!? PLEASE HELP.."
Read the Government’s response
The Government’s policy is to enable all children, including those with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities, to realise their potential. Our aim is to overcome the barriers to learning and assessment that can get in the way of this and to widen the opportunities these children have to play a full part in the life of their schools and their communities.
In fulfilling their duty to secure sufficient schools, the Government expects local authorities to develop a flexible range of provision to meet children’s SEN.
It has always been the case that there will be changes made to individual schools, special schools and mainstream schools, in the light of local needs and demands. Openings, closures and re-designations of schools are not matters which the Government decides - these are local matters for local consideration.
We recognise, however, that sometimes these decisions can cause uncertainty for those most affected. The Department for Children, Schools and Families (new window) has issued guidance to local authorities encouraging them to develop a range of provision to meet children’s diverse needs and making clear that when planning statutory changes to local SEN provision they must demonstrate that the arrangements they plan to put in place will improve provision for children with SEN.
Thank you once again for signing this e-petition.