PARENTS have expressed their delight that plans to shut a special needs centre look set to be reversed after a county council u-turn.

Wiltshire Council had proposed to shut the Specialist Learning Centre in Wootton Bassett as part of plans to redistribute the funding into mainstream provision.

But a report drawn up by the council’s education officials will recommend that this centre, along with one in Malmesbury, remain open.

Cabinet members for education will consider the issue at a meeting on July 27.

Parents had opposed the closure on the grounds it would be detrimental to children’s education and wellbeing.

Longleaze Primary headteacher Peter Cousins said: “We’re very pleased that the council has seen sense and they have taken into account all the good arguments that we have given.

“It’s going to make a massive difference for children in the area.

“We offer a fantastic service for them and these children will get the appropriate education in their community rather than having to travel for an hour.”

The 12-place unit serves 12 schools in the area and currently helps 29 children, providing specialist help with issues including Asperger’s syndrome and autism.

This support can be full time or alongside mainstream schooling.

Wiltshire Council planned to redistribute funds from the facilities to give more special educational needs (SEN) provision within mainstream schools If the centre were to close, parents said their children faced a longer journey to ‘super centres’ in Melksham and Chippenham or mainstream education, which they feared would not provide the right level of expertise.

Mandy Rouse, 41, of Old Malmesbury Road, Wootton Bassett, whose 11-year-old son Thomas is dyslexic and receives support from the centre, said: “It’s great news.

“I’m glad they made the right decision.

“I think the parents made a difference otherwise it would have disappeared quietly and nobody would have been the wiser.

“At least the council were prepared to listen and take our views on board.”

She also thanked the 2,500 Wootton Bassett residents who signed their petition against the closure.

She added: “My son has just had his Sats results which have come out much higher than expected - that wouldn’t have happened if he hadn’t had the support of the school in the last 12 months.”

Jo Allen, 34, of Wootton Bassett, relies on the service for her 10-year-old daughter Lucy, who has autism, learning difficulties and speech and language difficulties, for five years.

She said: “I’m absolutely delighted.

“They had no reasoning behind why they wanted to shut it down.

“We brought it to their attention and asked them to explain it.

“Why change something that’s working perfectly.”

Lionel Grundy, cabinet member for children’s services, was unavailable for comment.