Councils are being supported to make sure that the education they receive meets their needs by delivering high quality learning environments.
The Department for Education is allocating a record £850 million to support the delivery of new spaces for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision within mainstream and special schools. This will be done by improving the accessibility of existing school buildings, as well as specialist support for children with autism, learning difficulties, mobility difficulties and others.
More than 60,000 new places in special free schools are being created around the country as the government aims to increase capacity after a decline in the number of pupils in special schools between 1997 and 2010.
Coming as part of the government’s £2.6 billion investment between 2022 and 2025 investment is supporting the commitment to ensure that children are able to benefit from the education that they need to succeed in life. It also comes alongside a further £1.8 billion that the government is allocating to schools and sixth form colleges to maintain their buildings.
Gillian Keegan, Secretary of State for Education, said:
“All too often I hear from parents with children who have special education needs having to fight to get the right support. That’s why this government has a plan to deliver 60,000 more places that meet the needs of these pupils and their families.
“We are also continuing to invest in the school estate, so all children are taught in the best classrooms for generations to come.
“Whether in special or mainstream schools, we’re ensuring every child gets a world-class education, and the support they need to reach their potential.”
Support that will be committed to meeting the needs of children with specialist needs includes extra encouragement in learning, support when communicating with other children, as well as more physical support that can include personal care difficulties such as using the toilet.
Susan Douglas, CEO of the Eden Academy Trust – which has been selected to run a new special free school for children with autism and severe learning difficulties in London - also commented on the funding, saying:
“We know the life-changing impact that a successful special school can have on pupils and families, and we are proud to work with the DfE and local authorities to expand places where we can so that more pupils are in the right setting.”
Image credit: iStock
