IN calling for the closure of Worcester's Elbury Mount Primary School, in 1998, county education director Julien Kramer believed that the school's sorry results in spelling, writing and maths were denying its pupils their best opportunity to develop the basic skills they'd need through life.

His action followed Ofsted inspectors concluding that children's education at the school was so bad that their

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From P2 / n entire futures were at risk. Since then, signs of improvement coming from the school have flattered to deceive.

If ever there were a glaring example of why it's vital for children to be given that chance to thrive in their early years, it's the use of the school for lifelong learning, adults making up for lost time.

Parents quizzed about the closure, today, backed headteacher Kay Morgan, her staff, governors and way of running the school unanimously.

We didn't expect anything else for, as the school's roll has declined, they've remained her stalwart supporters by keeping children there.

It suggests that the formidable alliance of parents and community leaders who kept the school open in 1999 shows no signs of diminishing.

We never have - and never will - criticise the sincerity of Mr Kramer's opponents, or the spirit and resourcefulness they used to run an effective and victorious campaign.

However, now as then, opponents of closure ought to be wary of stepping on to a runaway emotional train.

The five county councillors who abstained from the 10-11 vote against closure back in February, 1999, should have been ashamed of their actions.

They didn't have the courage of their convictions. They let the children down.

They should have asked themselves whether the children had a right to be numerate and literate in one, two, five or 10 years' time.

They should ask themselves the same question today.

The answer tells us that Mr Kramer was right in 1998. And he's right now.