(UK) Cumbria: 40 more places for kids with "social, emotional or mental health needs"

June 15, 2018, (UK) Alternative provision schools to be created in Carlisle and Barrow Two new 40 place centres are to be created in the county to help stem rising numbers of pupil exclusions http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/barrow/Alternative-provision-schools-to-be-created-in-Carlisle-and-Barrow-aca705a0-8ccb-4055-80e2-0eb4f6321ea3-ds

Council bosses have backed a plan to develop two 40 place units to provide specialised education for pupils with social, emotional or mental health needs. It is hoped the move will halt the escalating number of youngsters being excluded from mainstream schools and alleviate pressure on the area's overstretched pupil referral units. Council bosses have backed a plan to develop two 40 place units to provide specialised education for pupils with social, emotional or mental health needs. It is hoped the move will halt the escalating number of youngsters being excluded from mainstream schools and alleviate pressure on the area's overstretched pupil referral units…. However, this can be out of county and is expensive, with day places costing an average of £24,132 per child per year, and the equivalent place in south Cumbria running to £47,813. Council bosses state creating two 40-place alternative provision schools in the north and south of Cumbria will be better for children and will help provide a more cost effective scheme. They will be run by the headteachers at existing pupil referral units, and a total of 15 places at each site would be allocated to youngsters with social, emotional or mental health needs.