Teachers strike at Romford special needs school over 'unsafe' facilities
Teachers at a school for children with special needs went on strike this week over concerns new facilities were "unsafe" for pupils. The teachers of the Romford-based Little Heath Special School, in Hainault Road, walked out in protest of its sixth form facilities being moved to another primary school premises, which they say is "unfit for purpose".
Parents of the school pupils state the premises opened when unfinished with "no fire plan in place", nor phone lines or wifi connection installed. The parents have also stated the toilets are "infant-sized" and not suitable for their children, with teachers also expressing concerns.
Redbridge Borough Council, responsible for education in the area, has insisted the new facilities based at William Torbitt Primary School in Eastern Avenue, Ilford pose "no risk" to pupils or staff.
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Kathryn Wilkinson, on behalf of Little Heath parents, said increased numbers of diagnoses have led to increased demand for special schools, resulting in Redbridge Council "insisting" on moving the sixth form to William Torbitt, where it was promised it would be "completely separate and suitably adapted for our extra needs".
She said: "Work started to make the school suitable in July. Despite protests that the school was already unfit for purpose: it has three floors and no lift for our physically disabled children, it still has primary school pupils attending, our children are of an age where it is inappropriate to mix with younger children.
"And the work could not possibly be completed in the time. London Borough of Redbridge insisted on going ahead. Rather than raising funds for a suitable extension to be built on the current grounds with one storey and suitable classrooms and facilities. Many strikes happened in protest, many meetings expressing dissatisfaction and concern."
Ms Wilkinson said the school opened on September 9 but was unfinished, so teachers took industrial action on September 10 and 11, resulting in the school being closed for those days, according to a notice posted on their website at the time.
Ms Wilkinson continued: "Most importantly, there is no fire plan in place. The children who are physically disabled will need evacuation chairs due to the building now having no lifts and three flights of stairs. No staff are trained on evacuation stairs. No assembly point has been agreed. No extra provisions or training have been given to school.
"No phone lines are installed. No walkie-talkies have been given. No WiFi is installed. This means teachers have no emergency access when a child meltdown, injures themselves or others, has medical emergency etc. There is no main school reception and no contact at the site for parents.
"There is no hygiene room installed. Many of our children are incontinent, have accidents when in distress, wear nappies there is no room to clean them in. Toilets are infant-sized and unisex. Our children are of an age [that] this is inappropriate. The toilets are too small. If a child needs help or cleaning. There are no sanitary bins and none will fit."
Ms Wilkinson also claimed the top floor of the facilities do not have whiteboards or computers, and the concrete play area provided did not have any areas adapted for their children. She added it was a "distressing" time with children "confused" over the school opening and then closing again due to industrial action.
She added: "Parents and teachers are extremely concerned and angry about this problem. The school has been allowed to open unsafe, would this happen to mainstream pupils, our children are marginalised and forgotten by our governing bodies once again. How can a school open so unfit for purpose that teachers have to call foreclosure."
A Redbridge Council spokesperson said: “We're pleased to announce that Little Heath School's new sixth form opened earlier this week at William Torbitt. New pupils can now access excellent facilities and high-quality equipment to enhance their experience.
“It is well documented there is a national shortage of specialist spaces for pupils with additional needs. Therefore, the leadership team at William Torbitt was delighted to provide a solution by providing a new home to Little Heath and has welcomed them with open arms.
“Both schools have worked closely throughout this project, demonstrating a solid commitment to their pupils and their educational journey. Ensuring our pupils' and staff's safety and well-being has always been our top priority. As part of the work to relocate Little Heath, we have implemented comprehensive and robust safety measures during the construction.
“We're confident that these measures will ensure both schools can continue operating safely as they have been, with no risk to our pupils or staff.”