Families fear for safety of disabled kids at school
Campaign to save vital posts
A Netherton mum is worried about her severely disabled son’s safety at school - as North Lanarkshire Council plan to replace ‘vital’ staff members.
Mum- of- two Jean King blasted the local authority’s plans to axe five members of staff – two instructors and three early learning practitioners – from Mavisbank Primary, Airdrie, by August.
Her 14-year-old son Ryan Callaghan has been a pupil at the school since he was aged two.
Jean, who lives in Kirkhill Place, believes the changes at the school will have a massive impact on Ryan’s education and health. She is worried the replacement staff will not be trained to deal with Ryan’s complex medical conditions.
He suffered a pre-natal brain malformation that has led to him living with cerebral palsy (GMFCS Level 5), learning disabilities, cerebral visual impairment and symptomatic focal epileptic seizures.
Jean said: “Myself and the rest of the parents are deeply concerned by these changes. We were never consulted and feel very let down by by the council.
“At the moment, we feel safe sending our children to school because we know the staff are trained to look after and deal with our kids in an emergency. We have asked the council what training the new teachers will have and what background they have came from but we are still waiting for answers.
“Our children deserve a good education and we want to know those providing it are the right people for the job.”
Families of the pupils believe that the local authority has failed to answer serious questions regarding the implications for the health and education of pupil and have started the campaign “Support Mavisbank School – Stop the Cuts” and have launched a petition that has been signed by more than 1000 people within 24 hours.
Ryan’s brother-in-law Andrew McGowan who is married to the teenager’s sister, Fiona, said: “The council have embarked on a significant overhaul of Mavisbank School’s structure without consulting the families of the pupils and that is incredibly alarming.
“It is so disempowering for a decision about our family members to have been taken without them.
“Pupils at Mavisbank School are not second class pupils – they deserve proper support at school. By removing the very people who know them best, who are equipped to attend to their medical needs and are trained to support their education, the local authority is destroying any joined-up thinking to pupil development. These plans must be scrapped.”
Wishaw councillor Rosa Zambonini said: “I am deeply concerned about the impact these changes will have. Some members of the SNP Group have been informed that these are not cost cutting exercises. However, if this is true, then why is it necessary? Myself and the SNP Group will be seeking discussions with education and senior council leaders. Children must come first”
Councillor Frank McNally, the council’s convener of education, said: “The phasing out of instructor posts has been taking place for some time.
“These posts are being replaced with teachers and specialist care staff to ensure the highest standards of care and educational opportunities for our young people. This is in line with both this council’s and Scottish Government’s expectations.
“We are committed to ensuring that the duties associated with the care of young people with complex needs are met by staff with job descriptions which cover all necessary health care eventualities without the needs for volunteers (as is currently the case).”