Most of us live fairly normal, if hectic lives, working, taking kids to school, pursuing various hobbies and interests etc …
However, recently those of us living in the Culvery Gardens area would have been struck by the appeal of John & Jenny Smith on behalf of the P.D.G. TRUST. Their life is anything but normal. It is one of extraordinary love and care for their “…adopted very profoundly and seriously afflicted son”, who requires “…2:1 care 24 hours a day, and needs resuscitating several nights a week”. Their son Jason is now 15 years old, although he was not expected to see his fifth birthday, and the task of care has recently increased as his illness reaches its final stage. John has had to change his full-time job to part-time one to help his wife Jenny in this full-time care, and they have also had to employ two assistants to help them. This care is now taking its toll on their finances and so they are reliant on social benefits and charity donations.
After months of public discussion it has been decided not to close Moorlands Infants School. Many parents on the Townhill estate, West End were extremely concerned over the schools future.
Liberal Democrat Southampton City Councillor Calvin Horner, the city council’s executive member for education, has both ordered a review of all the place school places in the neighbour and a feasibility study look at turning the school into a 210-pupil primary school.
This option was the proposal three that parents and teachers at the school backed. It should see the school change from a 2 form entry infants school into a 1 form entry primary school.
This option was also the option that both Eastleigh Borough – West End Liberal Democrat Councillors David Goodall and Peter Humphreys spoke in favour of at the public meeting held at the school back in March 2004, and wrote in favour of to the Southampton City Council.
However concern was increased when in early July the council officers, following government guidelines, recommend that the best option, in a 21-page report, was to close the school.
All the time Councillor Horner said that the executive will make a final decision on the school’s fate on July 19. He also said: “Representations that people want to make, ………, will be listened to along with all the views that came up in the consultation process.” The parents, friends and teachers made their points very well and they were listened to !!