New schools providing dedicated support for over 2,000 children
with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are to
open in 16 areas across England.
From Bury to Surrey to Solihull, the schools will provide vital
specialist spaces for pupils whose needs cannot be met in
mainstream education. A competition for academy trusts to run the
schools will be launched in the coming days.
The announcement follows investment of £105 million confirmed by
the chancellor at this year's spring budget, and is part of the
government's plan that is delivering 60,000 more special school
places – the largest ever expansion in capacity. This is helping
to increase capacity, following a decrease in pupils in special
schools from 1997 to 2010.
It comes as a further seven special free schools are one step
closer to opening in Merton, Cambridgeshire, Kent, and Norfolk to
create over 1,000 places as the trusts have now been selected to
run them.
The government is sticking to the plan to ensure every child can
receive the education they need to fulfil their potential and be
well prepared for adulthood and employment.
The government has already opened 108 schools as part of the
special free schools programme since 2010, with a further 93
planned to open in future years.
Special schools ensure pupils with special needs such as autism,
emotional and behaviour disorders, severe learning difficulties
and more can flourish thanks to specially trained teachers,
programmes, and equipment.
Education Secretary said:
Special schools can truly transform children's lives, enabling
pupils with special education needs and disabilities to thrive in
environments that meet their needs.
We're creating tens of thousands of special school places since
2010 and today's announcement takes us one step closer to our
commitment of a record 60,000 more places for children with
additional needs.
I know how hard it can be for families trying to navigate the
SEND system, and the creation of more brilliant special schools
is just one part of our plan to make sure every family and every
child get the right support, in the right place at the right
time.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury said:
Every child deserves the chance to reach their full
potential.
That's why we're opening 200 Special Schools across the country,
ensuring every child receives a best-in-class education.
The government is committed to reforming the SEND and
Alternative Provision system to ensure earlier intervention,
consistent high standards and less bureaucracy through
its SEND and AP Improvement
Plan.
The plan also committed to strengthening protections, and
improving the outcomes, for children in unregistered alternative
provision.
A consultation has
been launched today for eight weeks setting out proposals to use
unregistered alternative provision as an intervention, not a
destination, to complement the education provided in school.
It also proposes measures for providers to be subject to
new, proportionate quality assurance frameworks, underpinned by
national standards. The proposals build on the findings of the
government's previous call for evidence.
