PARENTS of vulnerable children at a special school have been ‘guilt-tripped’ into not sending their kids to classes, according to a fed-up father.

Jonathan Wainwright, of Wath-upon-Dearne, is a campaigner for the Barnsley SEND Matters group and one of his three children, ten-year-old William, attends Greenacre on Keresforth Hill Road, Kingstone.

Following the government’s announcement on Monday evening about school closures, a message was sent out by the school later on stating that if a child could stay at home then they should.

Jonathan said: “It was an attempt to make vulnerable children not come into school even though the government said it’s OK - we shouldn’t be guilted out.

“The message just made parents worry and a lot of them are vulnerable themselves - it’s not right.

“They’ve told us that there’s online school work but my son doesn’t speak so he’s not going to be able to do that.

“Some disabled children will feel safe going into school and others won’t want to because they’re all different, they can’t just be shoved into a certain box.”

A spokesperson for the Wellspring Academy Trust, which is responsible for the school, told the Chronicle: “On January 4 the Prime Minister announced that during the period of national lockdown, schools, alternative provision, special schools and colleges will remain open to vulnerable children and young people and the children of critical workers only.

“Greenacre School acted in accordance with this guidance.”