A SPECIALIST education unit for children with speech problems in Halesowen is set to be axed, the News can reveal.

Under controversial plans the Language Unit at St Margaret's of Hasbury Primary School will be closed down and pupils either relocated to another unit in Dudley or placed in mainstream schools.

The closure of both the Hasbury and Quarry Bank units has been included Dudley Council's Directorate of Children’s Services consultation on the Redesign of Specialist Educational Provision for pupils with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN).

Outraged parent Emma Page is furious after being informed her five year old son will not be able to complete his two years at Hasbury.

"I cannot understand why Dudley Council are doing this - to close down such a valuable unit for the sake of saving £55,000 is shocking.

"£55,000 is peanuts to the council in the big scheme of things and to stop the wonderful work being done at the unit is awful."

She added: "My son really loves it at Hasbury and was meant to carry on for another year but we have been told that at the end of this school year he will have to find somewhere else - and it might not even be a specialist unit.

"There will be less spaces for children with speech and language problems, everyone is devastated including the parents and the staff."

Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP James Morris urged parents to make their views known to the council concerning the proposed closure.

He said: "It is vitally important that any changes to the provision of SLCN by Dudley Council do not have an adverse impact on those vulnerable children who are benefitting from these specialist services.

"The Children's and Families Act 2014 contains a code of practice for the provision of these type of services which local authorities must take account of when making any changes which affect children with special educational needs.

He added: "I would urge all those potentially affected by the proposed changes to respond to the consultation."

The proposals were formulated after a review of services between December 2013 and March 2014.

Pauline Sharratt, interim director of children’s services at Dudley Council, recommended: "Hasbury and Quarry Bank full time Language Units to close and pupils will be transferred to Hob Green or their local mainstream school or special school, as appropriate."