FURIOUS parents have criticised the decision to close the MET (Medical Education Team) unit in Redditch, that provides schooling to children with disabilities and specialist needs, and relocate it out of the town.

Recently, parents of the children, who attend the Easemore Road unit, received letters informing them the MET would be moving approximately 20 miles away to Kidderminster.

Parent Rod Hewson, from Rubery, said the closure had caused a "catastrophic effect" on the emotional state of his daughter Madison, aged 11, who suffers from Asperger’s, anxiety and epilepsy.

He said: "I am thoroughly disgusted with how the closure has been dealt with.

"This is not a decision that would have been made over night, there would have been months of planning and consultation.

"I don't doubt for a minute parents and children would naturally be upset, not only as the children have to get used to change but their financial reasons, transport and additional time it will take.”

He also pointed out that when pupils recently visited the Kidderminster base, some of the children, who (not which) suffer with anxiety, could not cope and started crying.

His wife Sarah said that Madison had been "thriving" since starting at the MET in November after being out of school for two years.

She added: "There has been no parent consultation, there has been no consideration of the conditions of the children and no preparation or transition period in place.

"Their medical needs have not been considered."

Worcestershire County Council transferred the running of the organisation to Babcock Prime last year.

A spokesman from Babcock Prime said: "After careful consideration not to renew our existing lease in Redditch and consolidate services for the north of the county in a single base in Kidderminster.

“This consolidation of services will offer a better solution for all involved and we remain actively engaged with staff and parents on the proposal.

"We would also like to stress that our priority at all times is to ensure we offer high quality, safe provision to the children that we support, and the staff that deliver the education services."

They added that no redundancies would be made as a result of the closure.

They also stressed the MET service is completely unrelated to the adjacent Forge School, which is the responsibility of the local authority.

Councillor Marc Bayliss, cabinet member for children and families, said: "Our priority is to ensure that sufficient support is provided to our children and young people, in the best possible environment. We understand that some staff and parents may have concerns about the move but know that Babcock are remaining actively engaged with staff and parents on the proposal."

Babcock Prime have Medical Education Team (MET) units in three sites across Worcestershire - Redditch, Kidderminster and Worcester.