A £4million funding boost for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision on the Isle of Wight has been welcomed by Isle of Wight West MP Richard Quigley, following a nationwide announcement by the Government.
The funding forms part of a multibillion-pound investment aimed at transforming support for children with SEND across England. The Isle of Wight is set to receive £4,050,000 to help deliver specialist places more quickly and efficiently than through the previous free school model.
The new investment will support the creation of bespoke facilities and calming spaces for children with additional needs, including autism and ADHD, while also promoting better integration into mainstream education settings.
Across the country, around 50,000 new specialist places are expected to be created, enabling more children with SEND to thrive in their local communities.
Richard Quigley, MP for Isle of Wight West, has said:
“Today’s decision is a proud moment. After lobbying Ministers for investment in local SEND provision, we’re unlocking money that was sitting idle and making sure it benefits families on the island.
“SEND education and funding are among the top concerns raised by parents. I’m delighted that, following these efforts, families will start to see the system improve.”
Ashley Whittaker, Director of Children’s Services at the Isle of Wight Council, has added:
“Whilst most children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities are able to have their needs met within a mainstream environment, some require more specialist provision either at their mainstream school or at a special school.
“The Isle of Wight Council has an extensive existing programme to expand the number of specialist education places on the Island so that children can go to school within their community and alongside their peers whenever possible, and delivering on this work is an important priority and promise within the Island’s Education Strategy.
“We are grateful for this additional capital investment which will allow the programme to expand and accelerate.”
The Labour Government has confirmed that it will still deliver all 10,000 specialist places originally planned under the free schools model. However, in areas such as the Isle of Wight, that funding will now go directly to local authorities to speed up delivery.
This announcement is part of a wider programme of reforms, with further details expected in the Schools White Paper due to be published early next year.
you never, ever see govt providing additional cash for those kids that are gifted in educational ability and are being held back by the rest of the class that are not.
gifted children are most likely to be massive net contributors to society when they become adults and additional support for their accelerated learning should be recognised and supported.
when gifted kids become adults they likely won’t need additional care which is very very expensive
ive been on both sides of this and gifted kids are given more and harder work, while SEND kids are ignored / given minimal support, and sometimes this means they become unemployed (which people also complain about. lose/lose) so it is really important to fund SEND schools
Why is there so many children being labeled as special needs?!? Could it be down to the extra money that comes from saying that their child is retarded and the school gets extra money too. This is exactly why this country has gone to sh*t.
Quigley spurting out another load of bulls**t . Never around when any bad news about get Liebor out asap election now the clock is ticking.by the wat 700 migrants crossing the channel yesterday would he like to comment on that?
Great news and well overdue….will make a big difference in child progression and absence on the Island.
All resident doctors on the island to go on strike from Wednesday and across the rest of the country. Any chance of a comment on this from Quigley? Our survey said UH UH.