'Do U-turn before damage is done'

Mary Dhonau, whose son Peter is autistic and attends Thornton House School, in Wyld's Lane, said the agreed closures of three city schools should stop in light of the report.

Thornton House, Rose Hill and Manor Park Schools will shut, with the first two becoming generic centres for primary and secondary pupils. Manor Park will be sold off.

Pupils with "moderate" learning difficulties will be - and some already are being - taught in mainstream schools in line with the Government's inclusion policy.

Members of the Thornton House Parents' Action Group will write to Worcestershire's cabinet member for education, June Longmuir, and director of education, Julien Kramer, to urge them to backtrack on the plans.

"I'd like to call for Worcester County Council to do a U-turn on their decisions before any damage is done to the future education and well being of children with SEN in Worcester," she said.

"It is now widely agreed that special needs schools play a valuable place in the education system. This is the council's big chance to revoke their decision."

Monday's Ofsted report into the inclusion of pupils with SEN in mainstream schools said teaching was "of varying quality, with a high proportion of lessons having shortcomings".

It also revealed that only "a minority" of mainstream schools meets SEN very well and that partnerships with special school are "the exception rather than the rule".

However, it added that most mainstream schools are committed to meeting special needs and that they are becoming better at it.

However, Coun Longmuir said the decision was the correct one for education in the county.

"Whatever may be said in national terms, the amount of provision we need in Worcestershire will be reduced over time because of falling roles," she said.

At a meeting of the cabinet on Monday, Worcestershire County Council agreed to delay the next stage of the school-closure process until December.