Parents opposed to the closure of The Parks Special Nursery have claimed a council is 'blocking access' to their children to keep numbers low.

However, Rutland County Council says low pupils numbers accurately reflect the level of need for its "very specialist provision".

In October 2022, it was revealed the the future of Parks Special Nursery was under threat and was facing closure, despite outcry from distressed local parents and carers.

Parents rallied in support of the school, sharing their stories and upset that the school faces closure despite being the only state funded specialist setting in Rutland.

A consultation on the future of The Parks Special Nursery provision in Oakham has been underway since Wednesday 1 November and is due to close at midnight on Sunday 3 December.

Since the consultation launched, parents and children have attended a protest in objection to the proposed closure of Rutland's only state specialist provision.

A protest took place to 'Save The Parks School'. Image credit: Nub News.

Parents have also accused the council of 'blocking access' to their children.

In a statement, the council said: "Rutland currently has 11 nursery and reception-age children with Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans, which are written by a range of professionals who know each child – not just the council. None of these plans require a place at The Parks Special Nursery, and all nursery-aged children in Rutland with EHC plans are having their needs met elsewhere."

It added that parents and carers are involved in the creation of the EHC plans, and agree them before they are finalised, and that the council has not refused to issue an EHC plan to any child under five in the past three years and none are being appealed.

Rutland's services for children with special educational needs and disabilities is Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission-inspected. Their report highlighted the accuracy of the council's assessments of children.

More than 100 parents and children held a town centre protest outside Rutland County Library in Oakham earlier this month, aiming to save the special needs school from closure.

More than 100 parents and children held a town centre protest in support of the school. Image credit: Nub News.

Rutland County Council, which is responsible for state schools in the county, announced a review of their special educational needs (SEN) provision in October.

It says it has no alternative but to propose that The Parks is no longer viable, and therefore should close on August 31 next year.

A public consultation, launched on November 1, runs until Sunday, December 3.

The Parks School has provision for up to eight children but according to Dawn Godfrey, strategic director for children's services, only two are currently enrolled.

Anybody wishing to comment on the proposal should contact the council via email at: [email protected]

The Parks School teaches children up to seven years of age in a specialist setting. It has been rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted.