Local parents rally as The Parks School faces closure

The Parks School, a sister school of Oakham C of E located on Burley Road, looks set to close, leaving parents and carers of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) fighting to keep this 'vital part of the community' up and running.

The Parks School is the only state funded specialist educational setting in Rutland, and parents and teachers have voiced their upset at the recent decision to close the establishment despite it receiving an Outstanding report after Ofsted's latest visit.

A group of parents, headed by the local group SEND Action Rutland, have set up a change.org petition to 'Save the Parks School.'

The petition reads: "The Parks School is Rutland's only state funded specialist setting. They take children up to 7 years old. In their last Ofsted, they achieved Outstanding, a rating that is very difficult to get. Rutland County council want to close the Parks school because they say it's no longer needed.

"We, as parents and carers, say differently. The Parks have seen hundreds of children through their doors and have given those children a head start in their academic life, something that would be almost impossible to do in a mainstream school. The Parks don't just support children, they support the whole family, at a time that is confusing and frightening for the whole family. They are a vital part of our community and we won't let them go."

Parents and carers have also been rallying on social media, sharing their stories of the school and how their children have succeeded with the specialist help available at The Parks School.

Antonia Garnett-Clarke is one of these parents, and has shared her own story, telling the Rutland community about her son and how the school helped him.

Antonia, who is a dedicated part of SEND Action Rutland, said: "SEND Action Rutland was appalled to learn of Rutland County Council's plan to close the Parks school. The children who attend the school do so because they can not cope in mainstream schools. This is a decision that is made by numerous professionals from health and education. If the Parks School closes, where do those children go? Schools are already struggling to cope financially with the children they already have. They are also struggling to find staff to work with SEND children.

"RCC are working from a green paper that only finished the consultation stages in July. It has not been passed through parliament.

"The community as a whole are devastated at the proposal. Our petition to prevent the Parks closing has had people signing from all over the world. Past students, senco's, staff, parents and families have all been amongst the 1,300 signatures the petition has gathered in its first week.

"The general consensus is that the local authority should be looking at investing more into a setting that is desperately needed, not closing it down. It states within the green paper that provision will not be taken away. This was highlighted by the DfE at the consultation event that SEND Action Rutland attended in the summer.

"The serious lack of communication around the whole process is quite breathtaking. RCC still have not properly confirmed or denied their plans to close, even though it was openly discussed at the public Scruntiny Committee meeting that was held on 5th of October by the children's portfolio holder. It would appear that a school that is publicly funded has been fought for for a number of years, unbeknownst to the public who pay for it and without consulting those who use it."

This is Ollie, with his Keyworker, Ellie.

Antonia added: "The above picture was taken at the Parks special needs school in Oakham, Ollie is sat with his keyworker, Ellie. You can see from the picture the strong bond Ollie had with Ellie. He has left now and is thriving at his new school, thanks to the Parks.

"The Parks was also a lifeline for us as a family. We had the chance to talk to other parents at the school gate who understood what we were going through and gave us a sense of community. The Parks School is amazing at what they do. Their last Ofsted report was rated Outstanding. That is nigh on impossible to achieve.

"Last week, Rutland County Council announced their plans to close the Parks School. Obviously, as a community, we are not going to stand for this. Please, sign our petition to prevent the closure of such a valued community establishment!"

Another parent, Katie, told the story of her son, Archie, sharing a picture that she feels sums up his time at The Parks School:

Archie was 'celebrated' at the school.

Katie added: "This picture is an example of just one of the wonderful treasures that The Parks School made, just to celebrate who Archie was during his time there.

I will always be incredibly grateful to The Parks for all their hard work and wonderful care and dedication to Archie and all the children who went there.

"I am absolutely devastated to learn that at a time when there is a national shortage of special schools and an already huge deficit of SEN provision in this county that RCC are planning its closure. I have always known The Parks to be full to it's limits - proving the need for it to remain open. They also achieved Outstanding at their last ofsted inspection!… any sane person would think that the local authority would be looking to invest in it and extend it not close it down! It's disgusting. Our county and all the families raising children with SEN desperately need MORE provision, not less."

Local County Councillor Leah Toseland has also shared her story, adding that without the support and opportunity provided by The Parks School, her boys would have to attend a specialist school outside of Rutland: