A council has removed children from two special needs schools in Kent.

Pupils at Cornfields School, Ashford and Bell Vue school, Cranbrook, who are under the care of Kent County Council (KCC) were told on Friday that their places had been withdrawn.

Shocked parents say they received a call from the council’s special education casework officer at around 4.30pm to say their child was being removed.

In a letter sent to parents by KCC and seen by KentOnline, it says the council had visited the school many times in the past year due to concerns over “safeguarding and leadership practices”.

The letter said: “A number of risks were identified which led to the conclusion that frequent and unpredictable changes in staffing have led to gaps in Belle Vue and Cornfields schools’ safeguarding arrangements and ultimately this placed the students across both settings at risk.

“Kent County Council continued to try to support the schools, but they had not put in place the required changes by the end of the summer term.

“The council has concluded that significant concerns for the children’s well-being and quality of education remain which means that the schools are not meeting the terms and conditions set out when your child was placed at the school.

“For these reasons, the decision has been made to end Kent children’s placements at Cornfields School on Friday, October 4, 2024.”

The news has come as a shock to both parents and the school, with a spokesperson for Cornfields and Bell Vue saying they were only told shortly before parents were informed.

The spokesperson said: “Both schools remain open, and we are liaising with Kent County Council to resolve this issue as soon as possible.”

Keri Winstanley, from Canterbury, whose son attends Cornfields School, says the process has been “absolutely horrendous”.

She said: “This is the first we’ve heard of any safeguarding concerns – now they’re saying in two weeks you’ve got to find a new place for your son.

“If I felt at any stage there was anything which could put him at risk or in a dangerous position or an unsafe position he wouldn’t be there.

“I am going to continue sending my son to that school for his educational, mental and emotional wellbeing.”

Keri’s 14-year-old son, who is severely autistic, is one of the KCC funded children who attends the privately owned school.

Since her son started three years ago, she says he has grown into a “kind, polite and clever young man” and was not aware of any problems with the safeguarding.

Both Cornfields School and Bell Vue were rated Outstanding by Ofsted in February this year.

In its letter to parents, KCC states it is doing “everything we can” to secure a suitable education for the child.

Meanwhile, an email sent to parents of children at Cornfields School on Monday, September 23, said: “The school received an email shortly before calls were made and we had no notice of any such action.

“I appreciate the upset this has caused, and this upset and shock is shared by all of the staff at the school.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the school is not closing, and we have made contact with KCC to try to resolve this matter in order that the children can remain at the school where we can continue to provide your child with the continuity and consistency of schooling they deserve.”

KCC and the Department for Education have been contacted for a comment.