(UK) Soton: $50M to expand special needs ed; 6 special schools 'at capacity'

July 26, 2024, Southampton Daily Echo  : Plans to expand special needs education in Southampton approved

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/24478581.plans-expand-special-needs-education-southampton-approved/  

S. England

Plans to deliver “much-needed” school places in Southampton for children with special educational needs and disabilities have been approved by council leaders.

Southampton City Council formulated proposals for the major expansion following a recommendation from a strategic review of SEND services.

The multi-million-pound projects, which were signed off by cabinet at a meeting earlier this month (July), will see a building demolished and replaced on one site and a vacant building refurbished at another location.

Cllr Alex Winning, cabinet member for children and learning, said: “The places will help children and young people needing specialist education remain within the city rather than needing to go outside.

“As the six specialist schools in the city are at capacity this will therefore better enable us to meet their needs locally, which we know is important.”

Cllr Winning said the additional SEND school provision was “much-needed”. . . .

There was overwhelming support for the proposals during a public consultation last year.

Current estimates suggest the expansion of Great Oaks School will cost £28million [$36M] and delivering Vermont School’s new site will cost £11million [$14M].

Great Oaks School will be able support 150 more pupil. Vermont School’s move will provide an additional 26 places for pupils with social emotional mental health needs, moderate learning difficulties and autism spectrum condition.