Inverclyde residents have been asked for their views on plans to update the constitution for existing communication and language bases in the area.
The proposals involve changing the facilities to provisions for those with moderate learning difficulties in a bid to better reflect what the centres offer.
It would also make changes to pupil-teacher ratios that are aimed at ensuring the needs of children accessing additional support continue to be met.
The changes would apply to Stella Maris at Notre Dame High School, the Communication and Language Base (CLB) All Saints Primary School and The Cove at Clydeview Academy.
A statutory consultation must take place for each of the centres to allow people to have their say on the proposals before a final decision is made.
The decision to move ahead with this process was agreed at Inverclyde Council’s education and communities committee on Tuesday, January 20.
A report to the meeting explained: “The specialist provision at All Saints, the CLB, Stella Marris at Notre Dame High School and The Cove at Clydeview Academy were all defined as meeting language and communication needs when established.
“The Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SCNT) which agrees nationally the pupil/staff ratios for Scottish schools determines that the ratio for language and communication provision is 1:6.
“Over time the profile of need of pupils attending these provisions, whilst including pupils with language and communication needs, has changed and is now wider and more varied than previously.
“Therefore, the service would like to consult to change the constitution of these provisions to moderate learning difficulties, as defined by the SNCT, which would allow more pupils to access them as the pupil to teacher ratio would be 1:10, however we would aim to initially cap this as 1:8.”
It added each provision would still be able to meet the language and communication needs of pupils attending as well as those with a different profile of additional support needs.
The formal consultation relating to each site can be accessed at inverclyde.gov.uk/your-
A series of information sessions will be held at All Saints on Monday, February 23, at 1pm and 7pm; Clydeview on Tuesday, February 24, at 2.30pm and 6pm; and Notre Dame on Wednesday, February 25, at 2pm and 6pm.
