A MOTHER has started a petition to save support staff at her son’s school from losing their jobs – and already has more than 900 signatures.

Angela Pemberton, whose 11-year-old goes to Moulsecoomb Primary School in Brighton has spoken of the “wonderful” work they do.

Last month, The Argus reported that 11 staff at the primary school were at risk of compulsory redundancy as a result of cuts to funding.

Consultations between the school and Brighton and Hove City Council on the future of the staff have drawn to a close, with further meetings with the school and local education authority planned for this week.

Angela said: “I was shocked when I heard about the redundancies and felt I had to do something.

“My son has high-functioning autism and relies heavily on the support staff. They are completely amazing people who have helped him with his learning and his SATs and helped him see his autism as a positive.

“Although he is due to leave this year to go up to secondary school, I don’t want other children to miss out on the wonderful work of the support staff.

“I feel sorry for the headteacher right now, he is fantastic.”

The GMB union is concerned the school will not be able to continue if the jobs are lost. Branch secretary Mark Turner said: “I hope that there are no compulsory redundancies. Hopefully the school will either be further allowed to go over budget or it will be given more money.

“This school is in one of the most deprived areas of the city and we believe losing 11 members of staff will put its viability into question, due to the increased workload for the other staff.”

Friday was the final day of the consultation Moulsecoomb Primary is conducting with its staff on proposals designed to address the school’s budget problems.

A spokesman for the council said: “The council is supporting the school in this process and will continue to support the school to mitigate impact on staff as far as possible.

“At this stage no decisions have been taken about the future of any staff at the school who may be at risk as a result of these proposals.

“The school will now need to consider the feedback from the consultation before presenting recommendations to the governing body. Unions will be able to attend this meeting.

“Trade unions and staff will have the opportunity to comment on these recommendations before any decisions are taken.

“Through this process we and the school are continuing to engage with staff and trade unions as is our usual practice.”

The school did not want to comment.

The petition, which has some 930 names so far, is at ipetitions.com/petition/savemoulsecoomb11.