A SWINDON school for students with special needs remains closed to many pupils a week and a half after parents were told they could not attend with only a day’s notice.

Some pupils between years 7 and 10 have so far missed eight days of schooling, after the council told them that their classes were being cut due to a shortage of staff, causing a health and safety risk.

The October half term was also extended to two weeks, beginning October 16, rather than the originally planned one.

Parents have spoken of a shortage of information about the closure from the school and the council, while they have to take their children – many of whom have special educational requirements – through school work which has been sent to their homes.

Others have said their children are being temporarily placed in other schools some days of the week.

One parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said of the school: “They’ve had teachers coming around to my home with a work pack, which I don’t agree with. These are children with special needs: they need one-to-one help – I’m not a teacher.

“I got a phone call today to say they could offer a new teacher to come out to see my son, which wasn’t very helpful either. These are children with special needs, they can’t just have someone come into their home, and work with a teacher who they have no relationship with.”

She also criticised the level of communication from the school, saying that they continued to be warned of further closures at short notice.

She said: “I asked one of the teachers last week, and she said they would know by [last] Friday. But the only thing we got from them was a message saying more work packs would be sent out.”

Meanwhile, another parent said that his son was due into St Luke’s two days this week.

For the other three days, he will attend another school in Old Town, but only for three hours each day.

St Luke’s School first closed to most pupils on September 21, with parents told the closure was for two days.

It later emerged that many pupils would still not be expected to attend the following week.

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: “St Luke’s School is a small special school with 69 pupils, and the majority of them will be in school this week. The school is partially closed due to temporary staff shortages and we are working to secure the full re-opening of the school as soon as possible.

“Plans are in place for more pupils to return to school over the coming days. In the meantime, interviews are currently being held for additional staff.

“We appreciate the frustrations of parents but there will continue to be education provision for pupils at the school and arrangements are in place for pupils who are not in school to receive school work at home, with visits from school staff, additional tuition and educational activities to make sure pupils do not miss out on their learning. Pupils who receive off-site tuition will still continue to do so.”