Special needs school set to close

A west Cornwall centre for children with special educational needs is to close next month because it is too expensive to run.

The county council estimates it costs £84,000 a year for each child to attend Nine Maidens near Redruth.

The day unit, for children aged 11 to 14 with emotional and behavioural disorders, was opened less than two years ago, at a cost of about £500,000

Social services said the unit did not take as many children as planned.

Maurice Emberson, assistant head of Children's Social Care in Cornwall said: "When the unit was planned the aim was for 20 children, but there were eight this year.

"Four children would have gone back to mainstream schools. Three are remaining in other provision and one other person may want to go to specialist provision outside the county."

Richard Cooper, vice chairman of the scrutiny committee said: "We all felt it was a brilliant scheme, but we have to face facts.

"It was not a waste of money. The work done with those children has been invaluable."