The much-awaited Independent Review into Additional Learning Needs Education in Llanelli has now been published.
Written by David Davies, an experienced and well-respected expert in this field, the report is thorough and comprehensive. He has obviously taken the time to understand the situation fully, and has not been afraid to make his thoughts clear on what should happen next.
The conclusions contained within the report completely vindicate the campaigning of pupils, parents and local communities to save Ysgol Heol Goffa. Carmarthenshire County Council now really need to step up and make significant long-term improvements to education provision in Llanelli for children with additional learning needs, as well as those with autism.
Whilst Mr Davies has presented six different options to move forward, it is now imperative on the Plaid Cymru run Council to make the right choices and deliver the support and education that these children and young people need.
Nothing less than a new school for Ysgol Heol Goffa will do.
It is sad that it has all come to this. The Council Cabinet’s decision to renege on its long-held promise of a new school, the fear and uncertainty that it created by a lack of leadership and poor communication and their inability to accept responsibility for their actions will never be forgotten.
Families have had to fight passionately tooth and nail for what should have been the basic entitlement for their children to be treated fairly and properly. That surely cannot be right.
However, at long last, we are finally in a position to move forward.
All eyes will now be on Plaid Cymru councillors in charge of Carmarthenshire County Council to do the right thing in the coming weeks and months and create the provision that these children so richly deserve.