This is a open letter to Cllr Patricia O’Brien portfolio holder for children, schools and young people’s services at Suffok County Council

Dear Cllr O’Brien,

I have just started campaigning for a special school in Haverhill for children that are of mainstream ability but still have considerable difficulties in coping in mainstream schools so it is good news that you are organising a review to create a new day school for children with the most severe social emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD).

I implore you to seriously consider having this school in Haverhill. Our town is expanding rapidly and for a large town like ours the provision for special needs children is sadly lacking, for instance the County Inclusive Resource provision has to come right across the county from Ipswich. Towns in Suffolk that are smaller than our town such as Sudbury and Newmarket have special needs units.

We have a large amount of special needs children attending mainstream schools in Haverhill and I feel it is because of the financial implications in sending some of them part-time to special units across the county or full time out of county that our special needs children in Haverhill miss-out. I also know that one of the reasons some have behavioural difficulties is because of the stress in going to mainstream schools. These children also desperately need to be taught social and life skills to enable them to become more independent later on in life and mainstream schools just do not have the experience, expertise or capacity to teach them these essential skills therefore, unlike some of the children who are taught in special schools, as adults they tend to rely on relatives or care workers.

Haverhill Town Council are having a meeting with your special needs Officers on the 25th November 2008 at the Arts Centre starting 7pm to talk about special needs in Haverhill and I would be delighted if you are able to attend.

Regards

Patrick Hanlon.