Shock closure of school leaves parents of additional needs kids in a bind
Families attending a small Catholic school in Melbourne's east say they were not warned closure was a possibility and are scrambling to find new schools for their children by next year.
Parents of children with special needs are struggling to find alternative schools after Melbourne's St Philip's Catholic Primary School announced its closure at the end of the year. The Archdiocese of Melbourne's decision to shut the school was driven by declining enrolments and a review finding it unsustainable. Families were caught off guard by the announcement, with no prior indication of potential closure.
St Philip's principal Michelle Worcester and MACS regional general manager Marwin Austerberry stated that neighbouring schools would accommodate displaced students, but parents expressed difficulty in locating suitable options for their children. Anthony Navaretti, whose son has autism, fears the closure could force the siblings to attend different schools.
Angi Hill, whose son has faced challenges in mainstream education, worries the closure will send a negative message to children who have struggled in previous schools.
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