special needs students and their families, according to the Orange Valley School PTA.

The PTA is seeking a long term commitment from the Education Department to provide a year-round programme for its students.

Until then they are calling for the reinstatement of the present summer programme which was one of the first cuts proposed by Government.

The Orange Valley PTA believes the lack of a summer programme will be detrimental to the 17 students and cause great problems for their families.

A PTA spokesperson said that news of the cuts was particularly distressing because its members had been asking for an extension of the July summer school into August, before the cuts were announced.

She said: "Our students have a wide variety of physical and mental disabilities and many have behavioural problems.

"They live at home with families and attend Orange Valley during the school year. Their parents are committed to caring for them at home, instead of in an institutionalised setting, in order to maximise their potential.

"Parents need support to help their children. The Orange Valley School programme runs during the school year and children's play is based in a structured environment.

"However, the long summer disrupts their learning. Their skills are quickly forgotten without reinforcement. The change in routine out of school leads to potential upsets, behavioural problems and they become difficult to manage.'' Many of the families involved are single-parent families and most parents hold down jobs.

The PTA spokesperson added: "It is very difficult to find trained help to aid in their care at home and some have to miss work if a substitute carer cannot be found.'' She said that parents suffer high stress levels and worry over how they will care for their children.

"We need a long term commitment by the Government to a day care programme staffed by skilled personnel.

"In the short term, because we understand the reality of the current economic situation, a reinstatement of the summer programme is vital to us.''