World-famous Broadstairs SEND school faces closure

Bradstow School provides teaching to 33 of the most vulnerable children across the south east, but could be shut be next August.

Transcript

00:00The school gates may be open at Bradstow School, but for how much longer?

00:05Back in November, parents at the SEND Residential School were left blindsided by a letter from Wandsworth Council

00:12stating they couldn't afford to keep it running.

00:16The school is world famous for its provision, featuring in the award-winning documentary, The Reason I Jump.

00:24The London Council had offered Kent County Council full ownership of the school

00:29but after KCC turned down the offer, Bradstow now looks set to close next August.

00:36For the inability of local authorities to get together, put their heads together and find a solution that suits everyone

00:43obviously this is for the young people with the most profound needs, there is nowhere else like Bradstow.

00:48This is a kind of desperate situation, they've literally only found out on the 11th of November that this school is going to be closed

00:55and they are rightly sort of outraged, their children have done really, really well here.

01:01Bradstow School isn't just a lifeline for families here in Kent.

01:06Of the 33 children here at the school, only 14 are from Kent County Council.

01:12The rest are from local authorities across the South East

01:15and that's because this school is incredibly unique in the provision it provides.

01:20It's so specialist that they can't find the support they need anywhere else.

01:24Families beyond Kent's borders are now worried.

01:27What's going to happen to them if this school closes down next year?

01:32My son has only been there since September 23 and he has come on leaps and bounds.

01:40He is so happy there and I just couldn't understand why money is before the children's needs again.

01:52I just feel let down by the system, I constantly feel like we are being punished as SEND families.

02:00Now the local MP has entered the fray, calling for KCC to take responsibility.

02:06This has become a crisis partly because of Kent failing in its responsibility to pay its fees

02:12and when almost half of those children at the school are from Kent families,

02:19the responsibility for Kent in order to be able to provide education for these children is very pressing.

02:25Wandsworth Council say their decision to consult on the school's closure was the right one

02:31given the financial challenges facing the school and after exhausting all other options.

02:37While KCC say there is no legal basis for questions over owed funds

02:43and are working to find alternative educational provision for pupils at the school.

02:49But none of that will ease the concerns of parents and staff,

02:53whose fears for Brastow's future grow greater by the day.

02:57Oliver Leader, The Sacks, for KMTV in Brosdes.