Autism school places are cut

committee it was revealed that the governing body at Headlands had expressed concerns over the financial challenges of delivering the service along with difficulties recruiting staff.

It resulted in a majority vote by governors to decommission specialist provision at the school.

No staff were made redundant through the change. Instead all affected staff sought jobs elsewhere.

In approving the decision to decommission the cabinet heard that the move did not represent a reduction in the service.

In outlining the report Cllr Viv Kendrick said: “The school are wanting to make the change and we have agreed with them as an authority.

“I know it will seem, if someone is looking at this for the first time, that this is a reduction in provision.

“In actual fact the investment of staff from here will be into the central unit that goes out and supports children in mainstream schools across Kirklees, which is what parents are telling us that they want.”

The council’s website shows secondary provision is still offered by Honley High School and Thornhill Community Academy Trust in Dewsbury.

Cabinet committee endorsed the school’s stance. The decommissioning process will now go through a four-week statutory consultation with changes expected to be implemented in the new year.