THE first stage of a controversial scheme to restructure special needs schools has now gone ahead with the shutting of Blackamoor School, Blackburn.

The school will merge with Dame Evelyn Fox School to become Newfield School, but some parents and staff are worried the children will be worse off. AMY BINNS reports.

IT was the end of an era when parents, children and staff gathered for the last time to celebrate 60 years of special needs education for pupils from all over East Lancashire at Blackamoor.

At the service, many spoke about the close, family atmosphere of the 70-pupil school and mourned its break-up.

About 50 children with physical and mental disabilities will join Dame Evelyn Fox school's 100 pupils, who all have complex special needs, but the rest will join mainstream education.

Head teacher Anita Abram, who has spent 16 years at Blackamoor, said she had always been against the changes. She was close to tears when she said: "I'm going to miss seeing the children growing up. Blackamoor is a family we have created together.

"We have always worked towards the child achieving the best they possibly can, in their lives, which are sometimes quite short lives. It will be a much bigger set-up now so it will lose some of its specialness, but I hope the best of Blackamoor will go into Newfield. The range of abilities of the children will be so wide that it will be difficult to meet all their needs." She is also concerned that children leaving for mainstream education may not get the extra attention they need.

She said: "The mainstream schools are very lucky to be getting such talented children and I hope the schools get the resources to give them what they need." Twelve-year-old twins Rachel and Charlotte Bury, who both have cerebral palsy and use electric wheelchairs, will be getting their first taste of mainstream education at St Christopher's CE High School, Accrington, in September.

Mum Judith, of Woodside Road, Accrington, said it would be a wrench for the girls, who started at neighbouring Broadlands nursery when they were two before coming to Blackamoor. She said: "The girls will have to get used to a school with hundreds of pupils. It will be quite traumatic but the Newfield school wouldn't be appropriate for them -- they only have physical disabilities, they are mentally normal.

"It's been a rush to get adaptations to St Christopher's but they have been very accommodating."

Both girls are looking forward to studying with their friends from their home area. Rachel said philosophically: "It's going to be a bit different but nothing in life can stay the same."

Charlotte said: "I have liked being here but I can keep up with my old friends by e-mail. St Christopher's seems big but I already know some of the kids."

Lynn Unsworth, whose six-year-old son Matthew will continue at Newfield School, is also concerned about the changes. Matthew, of Abbey Village, Chorley, has a rare genetic condition and has to be fed by a tube into his stomach. She said: "I was not pleased about the merger. It took Matthew a long time to settle in but he's loved it here. He's done so well and his confidence has grown so much, it seems a shame to upset it all."

But pupil Jody Margaret Cross, 15, was determined to look on the bright side. She said: "I'm going to stay here at Newfield. It might be good because we might make new friends."

Picture: Charlotte Bury, 12, with teacher Carol Walsh