One father is doing all he can to save a dedicated class for students with intellectual disabilities from closing at Islington Public School.

Parents at the educational facility were recently put on notice that the group would be dissolved if numbers didn’t improve.

It’s understood the “IM class” is now under review by the NSW Department of Education and families have been “actively encouraged” to enrol their children elsewhere as soon as possible.

Sadly, Islington Public School boasts the only such service in inner-city Newcastle, meaning the community will lose a vital resource for kids with intellectual disabilities.

Local parent Nick Pringle, who has a son in the IM class, is determined to take a stand, starting a petition on Change.Org in the hopes of preventing the termination.

“We were shocked to be summoned to a meeting by the Department of Education in early December to be told that if class numbers did not improve throughout 2022, it would be dissolved,” he said.

“Our son has flourished within the excellent IM support class.

“Such classes are for children with ADHD, mild intellectual disability, communication difficulties and other diagnoses.

“So, the school enjoys a well-deserved reputation as a place of diversity and inclusivity.”

Mr Pringle said Islington Public had an excellent track record of being community-minded, too.

“There’s a student-led Aboriginal Education Consultative Group,” he explained.

“And, up until recently, 30% of the pupils arrived as refugees.

“Disappointingly, until now, kids with disability have been included and celebrated as part of the diverse fabric of the school.

“Apart from our personal distress at the news, we are also confused.

“It is our general understanding that the need for schools with appropriate disability-supports in the area is growing, not diminishing.

“Inclusion of children with disabilities in our community is, of course, a human-rights issue.

“But, it’s also of great benefit to the greater school and local community – we’re enriched by diversity.

“The department says the class is ‘on review’, yet in separate meetings parents were encouraged to enrol elsewhere as soon as possible or miss out on a placement elsewhere.

“Naturally this has ensured that class numbers are already falling as uncertainty and anxiety set in.

“The ill-considered timing of this is astonishing.

“Expecting children who feel safe and supported to leave their school against their parents’ wishes, and their own, is bad enough.

“To pressure parents to do so after the two years of uncertainty and disruption due to COVID-19 is unconscionable.”

Mr Pringle said the Department of Education gave locals the option of “mainstreaming” their children so they could stay at Islington Public.

“But, they then told us later these kids don’t qualify for sufficient funding for the individual supports required to learn within mainstream classes,” he stated.

“The department does not seem interested in supporting either the extra resources for the appropriate individual learning supports needed nor trying to come up with solutions to support the IM class to stay, such as proactively attracting more kids with learning support needs to the school.

“At a time when there is a rising need for disability services, not to mention the continuing evidence of the importance of early intervention, we’re asking for everyone’s help to save Islington Public School’s IM class.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Education said declining numbers over the past three years highlighted the class was not being used to its fullest capacity.

“IM classes cater for up to 18 students,” he said.

“Last year the Islington class had nine enrolments and, in 2022, it will have four.

“Those students will be fully-supported in their learning and wellbeing needs, but such a small class does not provide the best social or emotional opportunities for them, nor the best preparation for high school.

“Therefore, the class was placed on review for 2022 – there has been no decision to close it.

“If demand increases sufficiently, the class will be removed from review next year, but otherwise it could be moved to an area of greater need.

“The department continues to liaise with Mr Pringle and Ms Deitz about a variety of appropriate, supported educational settings for their son.”

To sign the petition, go to https://www.change.org/p/nsw-department-of-education-save-islington-public-school-s-nsw-im-support-class?original_footer_petition_id=&grid_position=&pt=

Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.