A specialist language unit at a primary school in Bexleyheath could close due to being under-used – but hundreds of people are calling for it to remain open.

Upton Primary School, in Iris Avenue, has a speech and language therapy unit available for up to a dozen high-needs pupils.

The facility, which has specialist therapists helping children with their development, could now close due to a lack of take-up, Bexley Council has said.

The council has confirmed it is considering the future of the block, with a consultation expected later in the year.

A spokesman for the council said: “We have had concerns about the reducing numbers of pupils referred to and admitted to the provision for children with speech and language disorder at Upton Primary school for some time.

“The unit initially provided 16 places but reduced these to 12 as the places were not being filled. This has resulted in the need to consider a formal consultation with the Department for Education to close the unit.”

It comes as a campaign has been launched to protect the facility from closure.

A petition, started just days ago, has already been backed by more than 400 people upset that the unit could be scrapped.

Launching the petition, mother Maria Galvin said: “My son was almost non-verbal when he started and lacked concentration.

“With the support he received by the speech and language unit, he made so much progress and he’s a different child altogether.”

At the time of writing the petition has been backed by over 480 people.

Currently, six children use the unit, a number that could drop to four beyond the end of this academic year.

“The families of these four children have all been assured that they will receive the full support, as stipulated in their Educational Health Care Plans, that they require to enable them to complete their primary school years at Upton successfully,” a council spokesman said.

“We understand that the school are working with parents individually to discuss concerns and the planned support available.

“Having had discussions with the school we feel confident that in future, should the unit close, the children will continue to receive the same level of speech and language support as currently stated in their EHC plans, within the mainstream school environment and that every effort will be made to ensure that the additional individual needs of all four children are fully met.”

Upton Primary School, which is rated outstanding by Ofsted, was approached for comment.