June 14, 2021, (UK) Newbury Today: Plans to convert The Grange, Thatcham to special education needs school https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/plans-to-convert-historic-buildings-to-sen-school-in-town-9202809/
South central England
PLANS have been submitted to open a special needs school in Thatcham.
Phoenix Learning and Care has applied to change the use of The Grange Nursery in Church Gate to a special education needs (SEN) school to accommodate up to 60 pupils and 25 members of staff….
It added that the number of children with SEN support has steadily risen since 2017, with a high level of pressure for places within the existing local special schools and an increasing number of children transferring to non-West Berkshire special schools.
"Additional local provision is required to enable more children to be educated within their own communities," documents state.
"In addition, the cost of specialist placements outside West Berkshire is rising significantly and this cost is not sustainable in the long term and could lead to a reduction in local SEND support services in order to move resources into specialist placements."…
