PARENTS of pupils at a Wirral special needs school earmarked for closure are continuing their fight to save what they deem a second home for their children.

Wirral Council is looking to close the Lyndale School in Eastham in January 2016.

The school has touched the hearts of Globe readers – who raised more than £80,000 for the school’s sensory garden – and we hope to show just how vital Lyndale is to all it cares for.

Each week, Emma Rigby speaks to a different Lyndale parent and finds out what the school’s closure would mean for them.

NOT knowing if your child is safe is one of the worst feelings any parent can experience.

But that is something mum-of-three Chantelle Smith will have to face each day if the Lyndale School closes.

In fact, the 28-year-old is so fearful for her son Scott Howell’s safety that she would rather keep him at home than send him to a different school.

Seven-year-old Scott has been a pupil at the Eastham-based special needs school since he was two and if it was up to Chantelle, he would stay there forever.

But that decision could be taken out of her hands if Wirral Council presses ahead with its plans to close the school for good.

Like many of Lyndale’s pupils, Scott is wheelchair-bound and requires constant care.

He has myotubular myopathy, a rare muscle disease which means he is unable to breath for himself and is 24-hour ventilator dependent.

Scott’s condition also means that he has a tracheostomy and is fed via a tube.

He requires suction throughout the day and night and due to his tracheostomy, is unable talk.

“He is completely unable to do anything for himself so requires 24-hour care,” said Chantelle, who lives in Moreton with partner Danny and children Emily, aged nine and Alfie, aged three.

“Scott has a small selection of his own signs but sometimes it is difficult to understand him and he becomes frustrated very easily but he has a wicked sense of humour and is one of the most loveable and caring boys you will ever meet.”

Scott loves nothing more than being out and about in the community, something Chantelle says is down to his love for people.

“He is full of character and has got a massive personality – he absolutely loves people and really enjoys being outdoors with his family and friends.”

When Scott isn’t campaigning to save his school, he loves watching DVDs and cartoons.

Chantelle said: “He thinks he is completely different from the other kids in school, he really does.

“He is dead loving, dead caring, he likes playing and he’s completely mad for toothbrushes – he has a thing for them.”

Wirral Council’s ruling cabinet voted to close Lyndale when it met in September, with a scrutiny committee of Labour councillors also voting to uphold the decision earlier this month.

A closure date has been set for January 2016, with pupils expected to be transferred to Elleray Park, Stanley School or other suitable facilities.

But Chantelle, like many other Lyndale parents, is not prepared to send her son elsewhere.

She said: “Scott’s condition is just a physical condition, not a mental one and the main reason he goes to Lyndale is because of his safety.

“If he was mixed with children with autism or anything like that there is a chance they will put at his tubes and that can be life threatening.

“If Lyndale closes, he won’t go to school because I won’t send him to any of the other schools. They are amazing schools but for the particular children they care for, not children like Scott – not our kids.”

Chantelle added: “Scott won’t be able to go to school until he’s old enough to go to secondary school. There is no other place for him that can cater for what he needs better than Lyndale.

“We will keep fighting to save Lyndale no matter how long it takes.”