PARENTS battling to save the special needs unit at Malmesbury Primary School from closing have expressed their delight after Wiltshire Council revealed that plans could be reversed in a dramatic U-turn.

The authority had proposed to close the specialist learning centre at Malmesbury Primary School in a bid to redistribute funding into the mainstream provision.

But a report drawn up by council education officials has now recommended that the centre, along with one in Wootton Bassett, stay open.

The proposal will now be considered by councillors on July 27.

Outraged parents had opposed the plans to close the Special Educational Needs (SEN) centre on the grounds it would be detrimental to children’s wellbeing and education.

Now supporters are hoping their relief is not premature.

Wiltshire councillor for Malmesbury, Simon Killane, said: "We have demonstrated that this type of centre is vital to our community and I am sure that our campaign helped to save other centres, and educate decision makers about the importance of locally supporting children with SEN.

"We are delighted that all those children from Malmesbury to Wootton Bassett now get the local educational support that they so rightly deserve."

But Malmesbury Primary School headteacher Jeff Straton urged caution.

He said: "These plans are still under review until 2012 so it’s still uncertain for the long-term future although this is initially good news.

"It is very positive that the council are taking the views of the community and it’s circumstances into account but there is still a long way to go yet and a lot of hard work to be done."

Parent and school governor Tristan Cork posted the good news on his Facebook page and thanked everyone for supporting the school and the centre.

He wrote: "The report to Wiltshire Council’s cabinet on July 27 has been changed and now recommends that Malmesbury SLC is retained as a ten-place centre.

"The council’s SEN people are coming to the school on Friday to meet with us and to discuss the new arrangements. This effectively means the council will keep the SLC open for at least another three years.

"The letters, calls and emails they received, along with everyone who went to meetings, spoke up or just attended and looked crossly at them made a difference."

The 12-place unit serves 12 schools in and around the area and currently helps 29 children, providing specialist help with issues including Asperger’s syndrome and autism.

The support can be full-time alongside mainstream schooling.

Wiltshire Council planned to redistribute funds to provide better SEN support within mainstreams schools. But parents said a Malmesbury closure meant children would have to travel to ‘super centres’ in Melksham or Chippenham or enter mainstream education.

The opposition was boosted when Hollywood actor and director, Henry 'The Fonz' Winkler, who champions SEN children, sent a message of support.