Cornwall parents call to save boarding at Pencalenick School
The school in Truro provides residential provision for children with special educational needs or disabilities
Parents in Cornwall are calling to save boarding at Pencalenick School in Truro.
A consultation, into the proposal by Cornwall Council to withdraw the residential provision which launched earlier this month, closes on Monday 10 June.
The key support service provides residential stays for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Kris Stephens from Fowey has a daughter at Pencalenick School who boards:
"It teaches them independent living skills, it teaches them how to be able to sleep away from home and teaches them living skills which are important for adulthood.
"She absolutely loves it, she does so many activities at boarding and it's not all about having fun, they have fun and they also learn."
In a statement from Cornwall Council, a spokesperson said: "Cornwall Council has launched a consultation on its proposal to withdraw funding for residential provision for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) at Pencalenick School in Truro.
"This is a discretionary service currently used by fewer than 10 pupils at a cost of more than £500,000 per year.
"After careful consideration, the Council has concluded that this does not offer the best value for taxpayers and is proposing that the money would be better spent on providing day education places for SEND pupils across Cornwall.
"We are now calling on those directly affected by the proposed change to have their say by visiting the Let’s Talk Cornwall website. |newtab) and filling out the consultation survey.
"All responses will be considered carefully before any final decision is made and the Council fully acknowledges the benefit this service has brought to the families who use it and the hard work and dedication of the staff who run it.
"Special Partnership Trust (SPT), which runs the school, has also launched its own consultation. |newtab)
"The Council regularly reviews all of its contracts to ensure they offer the best possible service and best value for money for taxpayers.
"It is one of our priorities that Cornwall is a brilliant place to be a child and grow up, and this includes ensuring that services and facilities for SEND children are the best and most wide-reaching that we can provide with our limited funding."
A consultation runs until Monday.