Leader apologises for fear caused by SEND proposals

The leader of Leicestershire County Council has apologised for concern caused by proposals to close four specialist nurseries for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The Reform UK-led authority has proposed providing extra funding to mainstream nurseries instead of commissioning specialist nursery places for children with complex needs.

Dan Harrison reiterated no decision had yet been made and added he understood the "powerful" feeling from parents affected by the plans. He also added he would "do things differently in future".

The consultation is set to close on Sunday 22 February.

If the plans are approved, the council would no longer commission SEND places at Sketchley Hill Menphys Nursery School in Hinckley, Wigston Menphys Nursery School in Wigston, Oasis Retreat in Melton Mowbray, and Lift Beacon in Loughborough.

The move would end the services, which are funded by the council.

The authority said the move would allow families to access SEND provision in communities closer to home, and that it would consider responses to the consultation before making any final decisions.

The proposals sparked a backlash from parents who said they did not want the facilities to close.

Harrison said the council was expecting 4,500 responses to the consultation but wanted to "refrain from commenting" because he did not want to "judge something with bias".

Speaking to BBC Radio Leicester, Harrison said: "We spend vast millions of pounds and I personally regard [SEND children] as very important people, I truthfully do, and we will look at this very, very carefully.

"I hear it and I understand it and I have sympathy because I understand the project.

"I understand these young children who desperately need specialist help... I get all of that, we are looking at how we're going to evolve."

One question to the leader from a parent said the consultation was "biased" and had been devised "to get the answer the county council wanted" in order to close the nurseries.

Harrison reiterated the authority would listen to all opinions and stressed that "no decision had been made" yet.

Asked about the "blind fear" expressed by parents who had taken part in the survey, Harrison added: "I apologise for that, but I can't tell you how grateful I am to understand the reaction.

"[The comments] are powerful and that's what's important to me to understand the people that would be harmed would be the children, but they might not realise the harm that's been done.

"We're going to look at this carefully, there's no decision made. I feel very concerned but I'm glad we've done it.

"If we've stirred a hornet's nest we've got to do it, I've got to understand what people feel and if there's concern or worry or stress."

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