An Isle of Wight special school could be expanded by 36 places to meet growing demand for SEND provision, costing £29,579 per child.
Officers at County Hall are recommending the children’s services, education and skills committee agree to public notices being published for the expansion of Medina House School in Newport from 168 to 204 places.
If the proposal is approved, a 5-week consultation on the policy is scheduled to start on 8th May.
Despite its declining birth rate, the Island has seen a significant growth in the need for SEND provision with 6.5% of its school population requiring an education health care plan (EHCP), according to a committee report.
EHCPs are for children and young people aged up to 25 who need extra assistance than is available through special educational needs support.
They determine educational, health and social needs and present the additional support to meet them.
The committee report says County Hall has a statutory duty to provide enough specialist educational places for children and young people with SEND on the Isle of Wight.
“The proposed additional SEND provision outlined within this report will help manage an increase in the number of children requiring a specialist education placement for their needs to be met by the local authority and allow placement of additional children for September 2027 and beyond,”
Article continues below this advertisement “Discussions have taken place with the headteacher and governors of Medina House School to expand provision.
“The school caters for primary age pupils with a specific learning difficulty and agreement has been reached to provide an additional 36 places by utilising part of the former Old Barton Primary School.”
The document says the place expansion would require capital funding, with works costing £1.5m. This will be budgeted through the high needs capital allocation – a form of government investment.
Day-to-day revenue spending would also be needed and has been costed at £1,064,844 for 36 extra places when they are full – equivalent to £29,579 per child.
The committee will meet at 17:00 next Thursday (5th March).
As good as that provision is how about first asking how you are going to staff existing classes?stop staff from ending up at A/E with bit s and horrendous assaults,and why today there are 17 staff absences many of them long term?