Pupils, parents and teachers have been left heartbroken by the closure of a special educational needs (SEN) school.

Lighthouse School, which had 44 pupils and was based at Northdown House in Margate, shut for good last month, with owners Acorn Group citing “location and funding challenges”.

Karen Chantler, 33, whose son Alfie spent three-and-a-half years at Lighthouse, said: “It’s stressful for myself, my partner and most of all my son.

“The school closing had an emotional impact on all of us as a family and our son found it to be a very distressing time.”

Alife, 11, has autism and ADHD and was “thriving” at Lighthouse, expecting to stay there until he was 16.

His mum explained: “He was emotional, upset, tearful, angry and frustrated when he found out he would have to say goodbye to staff and fellow peers.

“It was heartbreaking for him.

“A massive bomb was dropped on all of us when they told us.

“It never should have closed. It is unfair the position it has left everyone in.”

For Alfie’s parents, finding a new SEN school placement was “very stressful”.

“In the short space of six weeks, parents have had to liaise with Kent County Council to organise a new school for their children. That was the only time we had.

“That includes arranging taster days and visits to potential new schools.”

Ms Chantler believes that Acorn Group “could have easily saved” the site from closing.

Parents were originally told on June 5 that Acorn Group would be considering shutting the school, but a letter officially confirming the closure was not sent out until July 7.

The company has not responded to requests by KentOnline for a comment. However, in the letter sent out to parents in June, bosses said: “After careful consideration and evaluation, the company is in the regrettable position of having to consider the closure of the Lighthouse School with effect from the end of the summer term, July 21.

“The primary reasons for this unfortunate decision are twofold: location and funding challenges.

“Both factors have created insurmountable obstacles that make it unsustainable for us to continue operations in the current environment.”

They went on to say that immediate steps were going to be taken to find new schools for children and they understand it is an “incredibly upsetting time”.

Teachers had spent 18 months working hard to improve the education centre – which catered for youngsters aged eight to 18 – after an inadequate Ofsted rating in 2021.

When inspectors revisited the school in January this year, they found that it was now meeting all its requirements.

Staff say Ofsted was due to return to give the school a new rating – expected to be “good” – but this was cancelled as the shutdown was announced.

They also claim the bad rating was used as justification for the closure.

Pauline Hambleton, who worked at Lighthouse for 10 years, teaching animal care and various other duties, told KentOnline: “I just want people to know, it wasn't the staff.

“Everybody is feeling cheated.

“The day before we were told we were being made redundant, Ofsted rang and said they wanted to visit.”

The 68-year-old says during a month-long consultation period with employees, it was proposed that classes could be moved to a site in Clarendon Road which was formerly used by the school.

Ms Hambelton believes this was a viable option, but was never properly explored.

“It was all a bit of a mystery” she added.

“Some of these kids couldn't go anywhere else. No other school would take them.

“We got them sitting in classrooms listening – they don't recognise that.

“The kids struggled but we managed to turn most of them around. Every kid came in and learned.

“I don’t think Acorn Group ever supported the school.”

Another teacher from Lighthouse School, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “It’s disappointing more than anything.

“We were going to get a ‘good’ Ofsted – then the rug was ripped from underneath us. It's dreadful.

“Everybody is feeling cheated...”

“It's like you're in a race and have done all your prep, your tyres and invested time to get to that finish line – and then you get there and they say ‘actually the race is cancelled’.”

The 52-year-old believes the education facility was “always a thorn in the company’s side”.

By all accounts, Lighthouse School was a happy, healthy environment with dedicated staff.

The anonymous staff member recalled: “I joined because it was such a lovely little school.

“It was a lovely environment to be in, a family that they've now broken up.”

The school was made up almost entirely of children with special needs such as autism, meaning they find change difficult.

“We can't change these kids' lunches without some kind of transition period,” the teacher added.

“They were heightened after the announcement, and some reverted back to behaviours we saw when they first started.

“The only constant they had was taken away from them.”

Staff at the site “worked to the bone day and night” to find new school places for the pupils.

“It was a lovely environment to be in, a family that they've now broken up…”

Another worker at the school – who also wishes not to be named – said: “There were little kids that, when we had to tell them the school was closing, came in saying: ‘Here's our pocket money will that help us keep the school open’.

“There was one little boy who built a house out of Lego and said: ‘This can be our new school’.

“It’s really heartbreaking.

“There was no support when we were told.

“It was basically just ‘get on with it’ and we had to deal with the poor children.”

The 54-year-old spent seven years at the education facility.

Staff were told they were to be made redundant on June 5 during a meeting in the hall.

She said: “Everyone was absolutely devastated. I can't put it into words.

“We were put into the big main reception in Northdown House and had to wait there for half an hour because it was late.

“We were all crying. It was just so sad.”

On closure day, staff reported seeing movers in Acorn Group uniforms ready to start clearing items out.

Parents and carers came for a goodbye party and thanked teachers for their service.

The lease for Northdown House is currently held by Your Leisure. The company recently issued notice it is terminating that lease.

Thanet District Council is now set to conduct a full review of the whole of Northdown Park, which includes Northdown House and the Secret Jungle play area.

This review will look at existing leases and uses for the various facilities and buildings within the site.