Special school classrooms closed over mould | UK News

Four mobile classrooms at a County Londonderry special school have again been closed due to problems including leaks, fungal growth and mould.

As a result, more than 30 pupils at Sandelford Special School in Coleraine face having to stay at home and learn remotely.

The pupils have already spent about a week out of school since September over the health and safety issues.

The Education Authority (EA) admitted it had been “a very unsettling time for families and the school, which we deeply regret”.

The EA had previously told parents on 13 November that the classrooms were safe.

However, parents subsequently received a letter from the school on 20 November.

“As the result of a report received from the independent air quality assurance company, the Education Authority has instructed immediate closure of the four mobile classrooms,” the letter said.

“This communication is contrary to previous communication received during which the school was informed the classrooms were safe for use.

“I understand this will cause concern and further upset this evening.”

The school said that it would provide materials so pupils could learn at home.

Wendy Gallagher, whose son Andrew is a pupil at Sandelford, said that she was only informed on Thursday night that the classrooms would close immediately.

“To be honest, I actually feel validated and relieved that no child is now having to be in that mobile classroom,” she told News NI.

“I simply couldn’t believe that the EA were saying that there was no reason why our child could not return to school.

“I feel as a parent we have been put in a horrible position, and these children are vulnerable as it is.

“School is such an important part of their life for so many reasons and I feel they have been really badly neglected and as a mummy, this makes me really sad.”

She said she had been “worried sick” about the whole situation.

“I am so bitterly disappointed that the EA have let the situation get to this point.

“Sandelford School have been phenomenal – they have tried so hard to express their concerns about these classrooms and have regularly assured us that our child’s safety is their highest priority.

“How can we be expected to plan our working lives when we literally have no clue as to when our child will be back in school?”

Assembly members, including the UUP’s Jon Burrows and the SDLP’s Cara Hunter have been highly critical of the EA.

“Vulnerable children and their upset parents have been badly let down,” Burrows told News NI.

He called on the EA to show “decisive leadership, communicate directly with families and deliver a fully resourced interim package that preserves specialist support while pupils are away from school”.

“I will hold the EA to account until every affected child has safe, appropriate, in-person provision restored,” he added.

Hunter stressed the need for “routine, stability and the support of specialist staff” for children with special educational needs (SEN).

“Home-based learning is no substitute for the classroom and fails to provide these children with the education they deserve,” she added.

“I know how much Sandleford means to its pupils and their families.

“The staff do amazing work, but they have been failed by the EA yet again.”

In a statement to News NI, a spokesperson for the Education Authority said that “the safety and wellbeing of pupils and staff at Sandelford School is our absolute priority.”

They also said that the EA Maintenance Service had been working closely with the school regarding planned roofing works to the mobile classrooms.

“In response to issues with the mobile classrooms earlier this month, EA prioritised emergency repair works and commissioned independent air clearance results,” they continued.

“Based on the initial independent assessment, the classrooms were deemed operational.

“However, following a review of updated technical advice received yesterday afternoon, EA took the decision last night to cease use of the mobiles with immediate effect.”

They said that the EA was bringing forward a plan to move the affected pupils to the recently closed Balnamore Primary school in Ballymoney, County Antrim.

A recent report from assembly members on Stormont’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said many schools in Northern Ireland were “in a state of disrepair”, and it would take up to £800m to fix them.