(UK) Warwickshire: 40 more SPED places/$245K in funding; demand "increasing"

June, 2023, Warwickshire County Council: Plans to enhance mainstream provision in Warwickshire for pupils with SEND approved by Cabinet https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/news/article/4266/plans-to-enhance-mainstream-provision-in-warwickshire-for-pupils-with-send-approved-by-cabinet

Midlands

New specialist resourced provisions (SRP) offering an additional 40 places to support children and young people in Warwickshire with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have been given the go-ahead this week.

Following its meeting on Thursday 15 June, Warwickshire County Council Cabinet agreed plans to invest £192k [$245K] to enhance provision for pupils with communication and interaction needs (C&I) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) difficulties.

Continuing the development of SRP’s across the county, a further four primary schools will receive funding to carry out refurbishments enabling them to offer specialist support to children and young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) within a mainstream setting.

SRP’s, of which there are already 14 in Warwickshire, aim to support children and young people who can access the curriculum but have difficulty participating in activities and learning within a mainstream school environment.

With the level of demand for this type of provision increasing and the greatest need anticipated to be within the Nuneaton and Bedworth and Rugby areas, the four new SRP’s will be located at Abbey CE Infant in Nuneaton, Goodyers End Primary in Bedworth, as well as St Andrews Benn CE Primary and St Matthew’s Bloxham CE Primary, located in Rugby.

Plans include the remodelling of existing classrooms to install sensory rooms and nurture areas to provide a calm space for pupils, as well as delivering easier access to improved outdoor play areas. The facilities will enable staff to offer tailored support to meet individual needs, giving children and young people the chance to benefit from an inclusive learning environment that will support their development and wellbeing….