SPECIAL needs education in Poole must be made a priority if buildings described as unsafe by a school’s head teacher are to receive urgent repairs.

That’s the call from a local councillor responding to the plight of staff and vulnerable pupils at Montacute School, whose head teacher Andrew Mears spoke out over the condition of buildings in.

Teaching at the school, which caters for children with severe and complex needs, was recently declared “outstanding” in every category by OFSTED inspectors.

Now ward councillor Sandra Moore has added her voice to Mr Mears’ call for urgent action, and called for special needs education in the borough to be made a priority for the newly elected council.

She said: “The buildings at Montacute have long passed their sell-by date.

“The staff do an absolutely fantastic job, despite the buildings.

“The council has to make special needs education a priority. We have got to work out a way of moving forward.

“No one has got any money.

“We have got to think outside the box.

“We have got to prioritise.

“We have got to look at all special needs schools and what the borough can do with government help and the support of our MPs.”

In a statement responding to Mr Mears’ concerns over the building, Anne Newton, Borough of Poole’s Strategic Director for Children’s Services, told the Echo the council had been “deeply disappointed” by the government’s withdrawal of the Building Schools for the Future programme.

But Cllr Moore, a former education spokesperson for Poole council’s Liberal Democrat group, said the authority’s focus on BSF funding for improvements to Montacute school had been a mistake.

“The risk was that if BSF funding didn’t materialise, Montacute would lose out,” said Cllr Moore.

“They put all their eggs in one basket.”

Her ward colleague, Cllr Chris Matthews, said: “It’s in dire need.

“They do a fantastic job and they deserve better.”