THERE is light at the end of the tunnel at last for parents who have fought to save a special needs school in Swindon.

Swindon council is meeting to decide the future of Chalet School, which caters for children with special educational needs, including autism.

And a report written by education experts will recommend to councillors that the school should stay open and that a new special needs assessment centre should be set up alongside it.

Staff and parents have been fighting a proposal to close it because it was costing too much with too few children.

Chalet School moved to a £1.3 million revamped building on the same site as Liden Primary School two years ago, and has faced an uncertain future.

Karen Turner, 35, has an eight-year-old son called Allen with autism.

Karen, who also has two daughters, aged 11 and nine, said: "This is what we have fought for but I'm still worried it might not happen.

"The school has done so much for Allen I can never thank them enough.

"He started there aged three when he was totally non-verbal. Now he talks non-stop.

"They help me under-stand things. They are always there to help. It's about having another set of eyes and ears to see how he is behaving and make suggestions why.

"Allen would not cope with mainstream school."

Acting headteacher Kathy Bryan said: "It only takes one person to disagree, but if it's good news we'll be planning our grand opening ceremony.

"It's tough enough having special needs children but to have to worry about where their education will be adds more pressure."

Other options recommended in the report, to be discussed tomorrow, will be for it to continue as it is or to become a special resource attached to a mainstream school.

But Coun Gary Perkins (Con, Shaw and Nine Elms), the council's lead member for education, said: "There has always been a commitment from Swindon council to support the school."

North Swindon MP, Michael Wills, will visit the school on Friday in a show of support.

He said: "The Chalet School provides a vital service for children with special educational needs and their families. I helped secure the funding for the new school and I remain keen to support it."

Diane Milne