A group of Aberdeenshire parents have lost their battle to save two specialist dyslexia units.
Aberdeenshire Council’s education committee yesterday backed proposals to shut the bases at Kellands Primary in Inverurie and Crimond School, near Fraserburgh, despite pleas from parents.
The units are the only two of their kind in the north-east, and have been helping youngsters overcome their learning difficulties for 26 years.
However, the local authority believes they are “inequitable and unsustainable” and have argued schools are striving to be dyslexia-friendly, and with further training, pupils could get the support they need without leaving their peers.
But parents have blasted the plans and believe their children will suffer – arguing that with “the best will in the world”, teachers will be unable to help those with severe dyslexia while also trying to teach their 30 classmates.
Yesterday a petition with 1,134 signatures was presented to education committee chairwoman Isobel Davidson.
Kellands parents Graham Ellis and Tanya Doig also made an impassioned presentation to the committee, highlighting the progress their children had made at the unit, as well as their concerns with the proposals.
Mr Ellis, whose son moved to the unit despite the best efforts of Keithhall School, said: “We have had a bunch of stock answers but no assurance our children’s specific needs are being addressed.”
Mrs Doig stressed the unit, which her daughter attends, allows the children to have the best of both worlds – with specialist educational support in the morning before they join their peers for subjects like gym, music and French.
She added: “Their needs are being supported emotionally and educationally – this is vital for a child with severe dyslexia.”
Rhona Jarvis, the council’s ASN (additional support needs) manager for enhanced provision, told the committee that Kellands unit currently has 10 pupils and Crimond has seven, and that not all schools within their catchment areas make referrals.
By comparison, she pointed to British Dyslexia Association’s figures which suggest 3,500 of Aberdeenshire’s 35,000 pupils have dyslexia, with 1,700 of those cases being severe.
Westhill councillor Amanda Allan said: “It has to be fair for every child in Aberdeenshire, every child should get the same level of support if they need it.
“What would happen if the child can’t improve in school, what extra help do they get? That’s the thing I’m concerned about.”
Mrs Jarvis said an information booklet would be available, adding: “The school can also utilise existing staff or take from the cluster. It’s about having the right levels of staffing and expertise.”
But Peterhead North and Rattray councillor Fiona McRae questioned where the children would get this extra support, as many schools across the region are at bursting point.
She said: “How can they be taken away to a quiet place? There’s no space in schools.”
Mrs Jarvis insisted steps would be taken to ensure each school has a quiet space, while committee chairwoman Mrs Davidson said there was already “excellent practice” at various schools throughout the region targeting those that need extra support.
Vice-committee chairman Ron McKail praised the “tremendous” work of the two units, but said: “The decision that should be basing this on is getting it right for every child in Aberdeenshire.
“Do we concentrate our resources on specialist units which will provide support for a very small number of children as opposed to wider Aberdeenshire that need our support? The units are not sustainable and we need to move on.”
Education director Maria Walker told parents: “This is nothing to do with money, it’s not an efficiency saving.
“It’s to do with ensuring that all young people get the best possible start in life through education provision.”
Councillors agreed to support the recommendation to close the units next Easter, when the existing pupils return to their own school.