They fear that without specialist support their children will face majorproblems in mainstream schools.
The Laleham Gap pre-school unit, based at Newlands Primary school inRamsgate, closed in July, along with the Headstart unit at St Anthony'sspecial school in Margate. Headstart was reopened for this term onlyafter the school offered emergency funds from its own budget.
Michelle Wilkes, who is leading the campaign to reopen Laleham Gap, saidher seven-year-old autistic son, Jordan, has only been able to manage ina mainstream school because of the specialist help he received in thepre-school.
She said her son Harvey, who is three next month and has a severe speechdisorder, will be denied the same support. 'There is no other provision,even though we are told early intervention is the best way. There was nopublic consultation.'
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