Special school to shut with loss of 140 jobs (From Witney Gazette)
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Special school to shut with loss of 140 jobs
11:00am Saturday 9th February 2013 in News
A SCHOOL for children and young people with profound disabilities is to close with the loss of nearly 140 jobs in Chipping Norton.
Action for Children last night confirmed that Penhurst School, which supports 13 youngsters, will shut its doors in May.
The charity launched a consultation with staff, families and the public about the proposed closure in October last year.
Barbara Street, Action for Children operational director of children’s services, said the full range of alternatives had been considered.
She said: “We fully understand that many people will be saddened by this decision, but despite our best efforts the school has become unsustainable.
“Nationally, there has been an increasing move away from this way of providing care, towards placing more children and young people nearer their local community.
“As a result, the number of children and young people at Penhurst has been steadily falling and the school ran a substantial deficit last year.
“Based on current projections, there will be only five children and young people at the school within two years. We are deeply saddened to have to make this announcement. “We would not have made this decision if we had any viable alternative.”
The charity is working with local authorities to find alternative placements for the children and jobs for staff.
The ratio of employed staff – including teachers, teaching assistants, residential care workers and specialist therapists – is high because of the severe nature of the children’s disabilities.
The school began life as an orphanage on the same site in 1904.
Comments(9)
xjohnx
says...
11:07am Sat 9 Feb 13
JK
says...
12:15pm Sat 9 Feb 13
xjohnx
says...
12:29pm Sat 9 Feb 13
JK wrote:JK.
xjohnx ... maybe you need to go and "walk in the shoes" of a young person at Penhurst to see why that number of staff is needed. It sounds a lot but the reality of caring for young people with this level of disability 24 hours a day is so far from what we can imagine ... even at night, they can be wide awake and active. Having had friends with children who have been cared for at Penhurst and other who have worked there, I know it is an amazing place and it is a great loss to the profoundly disabled young people who have called it home.
I have worked in this field in an admin roll. The staff levels are excessive beyond belief and to prove it, the school is closing on cost grounds.
Don't forget most medical and social care needs are chargable to the NHS and Local Council, not the school direct. That employment will not cease.
jimm
says...
4:40pm Sat 9 Feb 13
http://www.oxfordmai
l.co.uk/news/yourtow
n/witney/10217153.Sc
hool_to_close_with_1
04_job_losses/
So you worked in admin. How does that make you qualified to know about the very specialised individual care needs of these children and young people? You keep insinuating that Action for Children and the staff have somehow been taking taxpayers for a ride, which is pretty obnoxious. frankly.
xjohnx
says...
8:23pm Sat 9 Feb 13
You have succeded in silencing me. with inane insults. Pity you haven't actually said anything.
Just read the story, work out for yourself why the place is closing and stop shooting yourself in the foot.
jimm
says...
10:12am Sun 10 Feb 13
"Where is the knee jerk reaction. I suspect jerk could be applied in more than one way."
I and others have read the story thanks. None of us has, so far as I can see, questioned the rationale of closure. So maybe you should try reading the comments.
What we have questioned are your remarks about the staffing levels, and the insinuations that lie behind a remark like "people making money out of the state (our taxes)".
You clearly don't like it when people dare to challenge what you say and find out your grounds for making those remarks, do you?
Man on the Green
says...
10:17am Sun 10 Feb 13
xjohnx wrote:The evidence would suggest the contrary xjohnx, as far as 'silencing' you is concerned, I have to observe. As for 'inane results', I'll pass on that. It doesn't help advance the discussion.
I find it pointless commenting here as so many emotional busybodies are just looking to make uneducated sarky remarks.
You have succeded in silencing me. with inane insults. Pity you haven't actually said anything.
Just read the story, work out for yourself why the place is closing and stop shooting yourself in the foot.
Feelingsmatter
says...
10:14pm Sun 10 Feb 13
xjohnx says...
11:06am Sat 9 Feb 13