Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision could increase by 50% at Lionheart School, thanks to a proposed expansion to the former Cowes Primary School site.
County Hall’s children’s services, education and skills committee will on Thursday evening (20th November) to decide on a recommendation to publish a public notice for expanding the Lionheart School from 120 to 180 places.
The extra places would be for children with complex high anxiety mental health needs and provided at the former Cowes Primary School site from September 2026, a committee report says.
The report states:
“Section 19 of the Education Act 1996 places a duty on local authorities to arrange suitable education for children of compulsory school age who cannot attend school due to illness, exclusion, or other reasons.
“There has been a consistent growth in demand for support under Section 19. Whilst referral numbers fluctuate sharply, since the start of 2025 there has been a significant and sustained increase in the number of referrals being made.
“Capital funding utilised for this project will come from the High Needs Capital Funding allocation provided to the council from the Department for Education.
“Revenue funding will be provided through the High Needs block of the Dedicated Schools Grant.”
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A lack of SEND school places can adversely affect the ‘long-term prospects’ of children and young people on the Isle of Wight, the report warns.
It says the council is committed to the further development of successful provision to deal with the growing demand within the SEND sector and assist children in having their needs met in their local community.
If committee members approve the recommendation, a public notice will be issued on 21st November and a related consultation period would run until 19th December.
