Keep Wiltshire Special Schools Local!
Donation protected
Wiltshire Council proposes to CLOSE three special needs schools in our county, including Larkrise in Trowbridge and St Nicholas in Chippenham, in a drastic move to merge them into one remote purpose-built facility MILES AWAY from the Communities these children are growing up in!!
THE LARKRISE AND ST NICHOLAS SITES WILL THEN BE SOLD FOR HOUSING!!!
The ‘Super School’ will then be sold off as an Academy and WCC will wash their hands of the most vulnerable children in Wiltshire...!!!
In a time when we are striving to be inclusive and embrace diversity, it appears not 'EVERYBODY MATTERS'.
CHILDREN OVER MONEY!!!!!!!!
NOT MONEY OVER CHILDREN!!!!
The Council plan to build a ‘super school’ just outside the village of Rowde, for over 350 children with special needs and disabilities, many of whom live as far away as Warminster (17 miles away)
EVERY child deserves the chance to be educated and valued in their own community, including learning life skills by making trips to the local shops and parks, supermarkets and church services, all of which Larkrise and St Nicholas students currently enjoy. These life learning experiences are even more vital for children with special needs, who face not only the challenges of education but also of their INCLUSION into the community. The schools have worked hard to forge strong links to local schools, some of which their siblings attend. This has a direct effect on their futures as adults, and is an essential part of an ongoing social process. They will NOT have these opportunities at a rural mega school.
NO child should have to spend hours on a bus to go to school each day!!!!! These children WILL NOT COPE!!!!! Some have complex medical needs and this could prove to create a massive health risk to these vulnerable children.
At a formal Cabinet meeting on 27th November, members of the cabinet voted unanimously FOR Wiltshire Council's proposal, DESPITE a huge protest, despite a joint petition of over 25,000 signatures, despite heartfelt pleas from several families speaking on behalf of both schools and despite the huge support and backing from the local community.
It was clear from the meeting that the Council had already decided what they plan to do, and that NOTHING anyone says or does, will change that. We strongly believe that MONEY is the driving force here and whilst we understand that Wiltshire Council has to live within a reducing budget, nevertheless, the decision that they make will affect the most vulnerable children and families in our county, for many years to come.
Sadly, we are being let down by our local council whose mission statement is 'Everybody matters'...?!
We now have no option but to seek legal representation and to enable us to do so we need the help and support from our local communities.
We were blown away by the amount of signatures we received in support of our campaign. If every one of those supporters were to kindly donate £1 that would help us immensely
Help us to ensure our children have the education they deserve in the heart of their communities... Please support us and help KEEP WILTSHIRE SPECIAL SCHOOLS LOCAL...
*It has been agreed by the Friends of Larkrise and St Nicholas that all donations will be used for legal fees on behalf of BOTH schools... in the unlikely event that not all donations are required for legal costs, these will be split equally between the two schools.
THE LARKRISE AND ST NICHOLAS SITES WILL THEN BE SOLD FOR HOUSING!!!
The ‘Super School’ will then be sold off as an Academy and WCC will wash their hands of the most vulnerable children in Wiltshire...!!!
In a time when we are striving to be inclusive and embrace diversity, it appears not 'EVERYBODY MATTERS'.
CHILDREN OVER MONEY!!!!!!!!
NOT MONEY OVER CHILDREN!!!!
The Council plan to build a ‘super school’ just outside the village of Rowde, for over 350 children with special needs and disabilities, many of whom live as far away as Warminster (17 miles away)
EVERY child deserves the chance to be educated and valued in their own community, including learning life skills by making trips to the local shops and parks, supermarkets and church services, all of which Larkrise and St Nicholas students currently enjoy. These life learning experiences are even more vital for children with special needs, who face not only the challenges of education but also of their INCLUSION into the community. The schools have worked hard to forge strong links to local schools, some of which their siblings attend. This has a direct effect on their futures as adults, and is an essential part of an ongoing social process. They will NOT have these opportunities at a rural mega school.
NO child should have to spend hours on a bus to go to school each day!!!!! These children WILL NOT COPE!!!!! Some have complex medical needs and this could prove to create a massive health risk to these vulnerable children.
At a formal Cabinet meeting on 27th November, members of the cabinet voted unanimously FOR Wiltshire Council's proposal, DESPITE a huge protest, despite a joint petition of over 25,000 signatures, despite heartfelt pleas from several families speaking on behalf of both schools and despite the huge support and backing from the local community.
It was clear from the meeting that the Council had already decided what they plan to do, and that NOTHING anyone says or does, will change that. We strongly believe that MONEY is the driving force here and whilst we understand that Wiltshire Council has to live within a reducing budget, nevertheless, the decision that they make will affect the most vulnerable children and families in our county, for many years to come.
Sadly, we are being let down by our local council whose mission statement is 'Everybody matters'...?!
We now have no option but to seek legal representation and to enable us to do so we need the help and support from our local communities.
We were blown away by the amount of signatures we received in support of our campaign. If every one of those supporters were to kindly donate £1 that would help us immensely
Help us to ensure our children have the education they deserve in the heart of their communities... Please support us and help KEEP WILTSHIRE SPECIAL SCHOOLS LOCAL...
*It has been agreed by the Friends of Larkrise and St Nicholas that all donations will be used for legal fees on behalf of BOTH schools... in the unlikely event that not all donations are required for legal costs, these will be split equally between the two schools.
Co-organizers (2)
Teresa Lilley
Organizer
The Friends of Larkrise School
Beneficiary
Jan Winfield
Co-organizer