AS the first anniversary of the heartbreaking announcement that a much-loved Wirral special needs school was at risk of closure passes, the Globe looks back on what has been a year of anguish for parents and staff.

IT was in December 2013 that Wirral Council bosses first went public with their plans to close the Lyndale School.

Ever since, parents of the borough’s most vulnerable have stood up and spoken out, fighting tirelessly to save the facility they consider a second home to their children.

Under the plans, the Lyndale family will be split up and the children sent to other schools across the borough.

Wirral Council blames a change in Government funding and falling numbers for the closure plans, but Lyndale parents still feel questions remain unanswered about what provisions will be put in place for their children.

Dawn Hughes is one parent fighting endlessly to keep Lyndale open.

Her daughter, 12-year-old Ellie, has athetoid cerebral palsy and dystonia and requires constant care.

Having been born 16 weeks early, Ellie spent the first two and a half years of her life on oxygen.

Further health problems have led to Ellie missing months of school at a time, leading her to stay on at Lyndale for an extra year.

But her mum Dawn and dad John Healing are fighting to keep Ellie at Lyndale for longer as they feel moving her to another school, whether it be primary or secondary, would put her safety at risk.

“It’s just the right environment for her at Lyndale,” explained Dawn.

“If Lyndale closed we would have to keep her at home because it’s the only place I know that she will be safe and that she’ll be looked after.

“We have just got to keep fighting – we’re hoping for a miracle.”

As well as campaigning on behalf of Ellie, Dawn is also the chair of the Friends of Lyndale School Association – a group of parents, governors and volunteers who are fundraising in order to mount a legal challenge against the council’s decision.

Their fight has been given a welcome boost in recent weeks with the news that legal aid has been granted.

“We are just so relieved to have it come through as it’s kind of a vindication of our cause – legal aid just isn’t granted these days unless there is some merit to the case, and it will be a huge help towards the cost of bringing the complaint,” said Dawn.

“We will only get a percentage of the costs from legal aid and so we need to keep raising funds.”

A final decision on the future of Lyndale is due to be made on December 17 at a special meeting of Wirral’s ruling cabinet.

Dawn told the Globe of a year “full of fear”, with parents feeling “crushed and hopeless” at times. 

She said: “We just hope that the Labour group can see their way to not only saving Lyndale but also supporting it to thrive in the future by investing in it and letting children stay at the school beyond the age of 11.”

Describing Lyndale as a “lifeline” and “extended family”, Dawn said she is certain there is no other place on Wirral that can provide the level of care and safety it does.

She added: “The only people who have the power to save Lyndale will meet on December 17 to make their final decision and we hope they can see their way to do this, as it is the children and families who will ultimately live with the consequences.

Speaking after the decision was made to move forward with the closure, Cllr Tony Smith, cabinet member for children and family services, said: “This has been a difficult decision to make, and we would like to affirm our continued intention to work positively with the families and the children affected, and reassure parents of our continued commitment to their child’s wellbeing and education.”

Council leader Phil Davies said: “We have looked at this with an open mind. This is the recommendation we feel is in the best interests of the children.”

Dawn added: “Some things cannot be valued in purely financial terms, Lyndale is priceless.”