PARENTS are urging council chiefs to back down on proposals to shut two specialist dyslexic units.
The bases at Kellands Primary in Inverurie and Crimond School, near Fraserburgh, are the only two of their kind in the north-east, and have been helping youngsters overcome their learning difficulties for the last 26 years.
However, Aberdeenshire Council wants to close the units, arguing that they are “inequitable and unsustainable”.
Education bosses insist teachers across the north-east are already striving to make their schools dyslexia-friendly, and that with further training, pupils would be able to get the extra support they need without leaving their own local school.
The plan has been blasted by families, who have warned their youngsters’ education will suffer.
Graham Ellis, whose son attends the Inverurie unit, said: “It’s not practical, it’s not achievable and it’s not giving our children the support they need.”
Yesterday Rhona Jarvis, the authority’s ASN (additional support needs) manager for enhanced provision, told councillors the move would end the current “postcode lottery” and ensure families across the north-east had the same access to support.
However, Tanya Doig, whose daughter has severe dyslexia and moved to the Kellands unit from Marketplace Primary in Inverurie, said: “With the best will in the world, a teacher is not going to be able to meet her needs while also trying to meet the needs of the children who might not have English as a first language, or other difficulties.
“They will also have to develop the curriculum for the mainstream children who are getting on quietly with their work.
“My daughter is very intelligent young girl, who is now being included with her peers. She’s not seen as stupid or having to stay behind during break to catch up. That can have a huge impact on their social skills and self-esteem and then when they become adults they need access to services that cost the council, such as mental health services.
“Instead, the council could spend that money on giving them the best chance to achieve what they can.”
Under the present system the dyslexia units take pupils from primary five to seven. Youngsters make the move at Easter, and go back to their original school two years later to prepare for their move to secondary.
Mr Ellis, whose son went to Keithhall Primary before switching to Kellands, agreed the arrangement was far more inclusive.
“They are with their peers,” he said.
“My son caught up on a year-and-a-half’s reading in three months. He’s writing stories now, it’s great.
“Keithhall did absolutely all they could to help my son. They even went to Kellands and compared teaching practices to see if they could bring in the same teaching methods but it was impossible. They didn’t have the resources.”
At Aberdeenshire Council’s Garioch area committee meeting yesterday, Mrs Jarvis told councillors: “This is about developing the model we have got across the whole of Aberdeenshire and addressing a historical element that has gone on 26 years and is no longer appropriate or viable.
“We feel the enhanced provision would end the postcode lottery for what families get.
“It’s every teacher’s job to ensure that they do take account of all of the needs of learners in their class.
“Every child is individual and we will make sure that everything is in place and works well.”