Cornwall’s political head of children’s care has warned people about believing “quarter truths” on Facebook when it comes to the future funding of Pencalenick School, near Tresillian.

Cornwall Council has proposed to scrap funding which allows children with special education needs (SEN) and disabilities to board at Pencalenick while their families gain some respite. The local authority wants to cease SEN residential provision at the school, which has around 142 secondary school pupils.

It says the £563,000 it currently gives annually to Special Schools Partnership Trust (SSPT), which runs the school, could be used to create specialist SEN education ‘day places’ instead, “where there is need in Cornwall”.

If the proposals are approved, it is anticipated the boarding facility at Pencalenick School could close at the end of the current academic year.

The consultation has been met with consternation by some families. Lisa Trerise De-Bargeton, whose 14-year-old son boards at the school one night a week, said: “My son has gained so much independence and social skills from boarding here. To have that taken away will be devastating.”

At a meeting of Cornwall Council’s children and families scrutiny committee last Wednesday, chairman Cllr James Mustoe addressed the Conservative cabinet’s portfolio holder for children, Barbara Ellenbroek, after saying he’d received correspondence and seen “various things” on social media around the proposed changes to board and provision at Pencalenick.

Cllr Ellenbroek responded: “Social media is very good at telling quarter truths. I’ve seen something which says this affects 40 children. It absolutely does not.

“It’s very important to emphasise this is simply a consultation. It is a facility which costs this council a lot of money, from which in actual fact I think there’s a maximum of ten children that currently use the facility intermittently.

“None of those children or young people actually have overnight stays within their care plans. It’s something I realise is appreciated by parents but not actually a necessity for the development of those children.”

She added: “No final decision has been made or will be made until such time as the consultation is finished.”

Eveleen Riordan, the council’s service director for education and community health, said two public meetings were being proposed before the consultation ends on June 10.

“We want to understand from all parents, carers and all interested parties, their views on Pencalenick boarding facilities,” she said. “It’s not a done deal.”

The proposals are not expected to have an adverse impact on SEN education day provision at Pencalenick.

Feedback about the proposals must be submitted by 5pm on June 10 via an online consultation questionnaire which can be found at letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk