Kirklees Council has admitted: There may be problems over their plans for Reinwood families

A letter from Gill Ellis, Kirklees Assistant Director for Learning and Skills, was sent home with every Reinwood infant on Wednesday. It said: “I am writing to give you some important news about school places in your area.

“On Thursday 16 April (National Offer Day) 120 places will be offered for the reception class at Reinwood Infant and Nursery School for September 2015.

“The decision made in December remains unchanged – we will not be expanding Reinwood Infant and Nursery and Reinwood Junior Schools.

“The council has consulted upon and is to determine the pupil admission number for reception classes from September 2016. It is our intention that this will return to 90 places.

“We need to consider our approach and work with the local school communities to look at how best we move forward together in order to accommodate the additional children whilst at the school.

“I appreciate that you may have some concerns as there will be more children at the school than suggested in our proposals.”

“A number of information sessions are being arranged for you to attend and find out more. The dates will be sent to you soon. Thank you for your understanding.”

Kirklees Council has been panned by the government for its U-turn on extra school places at Reinwood.

Schools Adjudicator Jill Pullen has rejected the council’s plan to reduce the reception intake from 120 to 90 at Reinwood Infant and Nursery School this September, and the school places row rumbles on.

The council had previously said it was going to expand the school, and in 2013 and 2014 created two extra “bulge classes” of 30 youngsters each. However, they changed their mind at some unspecified time, saying the funds would be spent on creating classes at Royds Hall, saving £1.5m.

Local families who have already sent their children to Reinwood, or are considering doing so this September, were “devastated” by the decision and extremely worried that 90 infants will have no place at the junior school from next year to 2018.

Miss Pullen criticised the council for its lack of consultation and fairness.

And Lindley councillor Cahal Burke, LibDem, has accused Kirklees of acting secretively. He also claims that Cabinet members who decided the matter are ill-informed and not up to the job.

Unrepentant, Kirklees has already sent a letter home with all Reinwood infants informing parents they have no intention of changing their mind.

Miss Pullen pointed out that the council decided on a double intake at Royds Hall before planning permission had even been approved and knowing they have no say over admissions at the school, which are decided by the governing body.

She said that there were also major traffic and road safety concerns at Royds Hall.

She criticised the council for being “misleading” and “unfair” to parents, adding: “I find the implications of this...were not properly presented to parents so that they could make informed decisions. I do not share the confidence of the local authority that they were able to advise parents appropriately.

“I find that the alternative places proposed, temporary classes on a secondary school site as part of a proposal for a new school that is not fully agreed, are not comparable with those the local authority is seeking to withdraw from Reinwood Infant School.”

Former teacher Clr Burke, who represented Reinwood parents at the Kirklees Scrutiny Panel, said: “I agree with the Adjudicator. We all felt that the process was wrong. It is unclear when the U-turn was taken - decisions have taken place behind closed doors and the whole process is not open and fair, as it should be.”

He added that Cabinet members were taking decisions on matters they were not fully briefed on: “It is not good enough by a long shot; parents, children and elected members are being let down.

“It is very worrying the council can carry on regardless with no regard for the impact it has on people’s lives.”

Parent Julie Smyth said: “It is a complete mess. The adjudicators’s report is very scathing and bears out everything the parents have said; the whole process was flawed.

“Due to a vast number of local authority haphazard decisions, the school is now left in an absolutely diabolic position whereby they must take in a third bulge year without the necessary plans in place to accommodate these children.”