(UK) Hinckley: Council approves special school for 75
- The end of childhood
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Dec 5, 2025, Leicester Mercury: 'Historic' community centre to become special needs school
A “historic” community centre is to become a school for up to 75 children with special education needs. Councillors who met to decide the fate of the former Westfield Community Centre in Hinckley voted unanimously to change the use of the building after hearing hundreds of children across the county were on waiting lists for specialist school places.
The 1930s building on Rosemary Way was originally built as a school, but became a key community facility in later decades. A nursery and pre-school were based there, with other activities including bowls, dancing, art classes and a toy library.
The community centre was put up for sale last year after struggling due to a lack of funding. One councillor on Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council’s planning committee accused previous governments of having “turned their back” on community centres. . . .
She said children have to travel “quite a way from home” due to the shortage of SEND school places in the county. “Some are just left waiting for a place to come up,” she said.
Cllr Richard Flemming, said he had opened a SEND art festival earlier that day as part of his role as mayor of the borough. Calling the work he had seen “amazing”, he said the proposals had his “blessing”, adding: “I had the pleasure of speaking to a lot of staff. They kept saying how desperate they are for SEND places. This will take 70 students off the waiting list.” . . .
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