MEDSTEAD School was in jubilant mood on Monday following the decision by Hampshire County Council to save its Hearing Impaired (HI) unit from closure. It has taken two years to persuade HCC to reverse the closure decision and to admit that Medstead's HI unit is "the best in class". With the Local Education Authority (LEA) planning to "axe the best" the fight attracted cross-party support, causing constitutional mayhem as members decided to challenge the decision of the then executive member for children's services, Felicity Hindson. Medstead supporters joined forces with the HI Unit at Park View, Basingstoke, to present a united front and it was this approach, said Alton Rural county councillor Mark Kemp-Gee, that found a chink in the LEA's armour. This week, seeing the delight on the faces of children when they heard the news that they could stay at Medstead, was all the thanks Mark Kemp- Gee and his team needed. He said: "It is a terrific victory which has required Herculean effort by parents and supporters." Parent Caris Stoller could hardly believe they had won. Having twice been told that Medstead's HI unit was to close, the relief was palpable. She expressed thanks to all those councillors who had worked to consider the fundamental issues surrounding the councils' rationalisation proposals. These were based on a continuity between primary and linked secondary provision, with the creation of 'three pyramids of provision' to serve north, south and central areas of the county, and the availability of outreach support. Because Medstead was not linked with a recognised senior provision it was earmarked for the chop, a decision which ignored the 13 years of investment in time and money it had taken to build an HI 'centre of excellence'. While the pyramid model still remains as the basis of rationalising current provision, "to achieve peer group size and utilising resources more effectively", HCC has also recognised the importance of maintaining centres of excellence. Executive lead member for children's services, David Kirk, said: "HCC is determined to ensure all children get the best out of their education and reach their full potential." Medstead School headteacher Ian Waine said: "The school and community are delighted that the county council have recognised the quality of provision for Deaf and Hearing Impaired Pupils at Medstead."