The negative impact of changes for pupils

As a fellow resident of Ecclesall I read with interest Mr Stebbing’s recent letter regarding the cost of proposals to increase school places in the area.

Being a parent of a child who will potentially attend Ecclesall school, I have also been following the subject closely.

I don’t question the need for more catchment-area places, but I do strongly question whether the council are pursuing the right option.

I have serious misgivings about the proposal to more than treble the number of children on the infant school site.

Where will all that traffic go in an already congested area? I believe it will create serious safety issues. How negatively will the children’s sporting, play and outdoor learning opportunities be affected with such a reduction in the usable green space?

I believe the early-school experience of every child will, sadly, be the poorer for it.

As I understand it, a proposal involving a small expansion of Ecclesall and of Clifford School, which was deemed cheaper and less disruptive (yet equally beneficial in terms of places-increase) has been dismissed. Why?

This is a question I will ask at the consultation workshops on the subject.

I urge residents and parents to think seriously about the impact of the large-scale changes being proposed and to attend a workshop or send their comments to the consultation if they can.

Emily Smyllie

S11