Mum Naomi Irvine has slammed plans to close centres for children with special educational needs, which were approved by Wiltshire councillors this week.

Ms Irvine, of King Edward Close, Calne, whose 15-year-old daughter is autistic, spoke out at a Wiltshire Council cabinet meeting held in Devizes on Tuesday.

She believes that autistic children should be catered for in small specialist learning centres.

The council will reduce the number of places from 306 to 200 by closing four specialist learning centres in the east and south of the county. It says money saved will be used to improve provision in mainstream schools.

In February, 2009 Ms Irvine’s daughter was refused a place at a school specialising in autism and instead was asked to attend Springfield special school in Calne, which caters for children with a wide range of problems.

More than 50 per cent of the students Springfield took on in the last 18 months have autistic spectrum disorders, or ASD.

Ms Irvine said: “When we first visited the school my child became withdrawn and her face drained of colour. She said that she found the environment too loud. Sensitivity to sound and bright lights is a common trait.

“She has been unable to have any formal teaching at the school for two years now and her mental health has deteriorated. She is still technically a pupil there but she doesn’t go in.

“My child has suffered immensely and it breaks my heart to see what is happening.”

Springfield headteacher Trystan Williams said: “I hope that the small number of people who doubt our commitment to providing the best opportunities for the most vulnerable children will see that we have been recognised as a high performing and outstanding school.”

A Wiltshire Council spokesperson said the school placement was fully supported by the independent SEN tribunal.