Following the news of the consultation of possible closure of six primary schools, there is also news for SEND provision.
While almost 1,900 classroom seats go unfilled in mainstream schools, there is conversely a growing demand for Special Educational Needs (SEND) provision across the Island with hundreds of new specialist places desperately needed to support some of our most vulnerable children and young people.
New SEND provision — hundreds of new places proposed across the Island
The council is on track to provide more than 200 much needed SEND places over the next 18 months.
St George’s School is one of the first to benefit from council investment with the opening of a satellite site in the former Studio School building in East Cowes, providing the first Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs provision on the Island.
Specialist provision has also been expanded at Greenmount Primary School to meet the needs of children with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) or Speech Language Communication Needs (SLCN).
Today’s proposals look to continue to grow specialist provision on the Island to ensure every child and young person with SEND is supported to engage in learning and has an educational experience that inspires them.
Proposed consultation
Therefore, the council is proposing to consult on:
- the creation of a new dedicated facility for children and young people who have high anxiety and/or mental health needs at the Arreton CE Primary School site;
- repurposing Oakfield CE Primary School as a satellite site for the Island’s primary special school, Medina House, and creation of a specialist facility supporting primary aged children with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH);
- the creation of a 12-place primary SEND provision at The Bay CE School;
- a new 12-place provision for children with speech, communication language needs (SCLN) and/or Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) at Brighstone CE Primary School — the first such provision in the West Wight.
Other changes
The council is also proposing to consult on the following changes with the sites to be considered as part of the process:
- the creation of a community resource for post 16 educational use for trades, sports and uniformed services, along with higher education, including international studies and a hub for creative and independent living skills;
- the expansion of specialist education provision for children with medical needs;
- a child development centre/teacher training and development centre.
The proposals would ensure that wherever possible the school sites identified for potential closure would remain in educational use and benefit from council investment to provide the very best, modern facilities for Island children.
Cabinet decision
The Cabinet papers are available on the council’s website.
Further information on the council’s draft education and school place planning strategies is available here.
News shared by Isle of Wight council press office, in their own words. Ed
