Council takes steps to expand SEND school places

Wiltshire Council is considering converting the former Calder House Independent School, near Colerne, into a satellite site for an existing special school to provide more spaces for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The specific school that would operate the new campus has not been confirmed.

The proposed facility, to be called the Northwood Centre, is expected to accommodate 50 students with high needs at an annual cost of 1.27 million. This is significantly less than the 3.1 million currently spent on placing children in independent non-maintained specialist schools (INMSS).

Jon Hubbard from Wiltshire Council explained, "This new campus will provide much-needed local places, lower expenses, and support our commitment to inclusive, high-quality education."

According to the council, the average cost for a full-time INMSS placement is 62,219, while a placement in a maintained or academy special school averages 25,471. The Northwood Centre is intended to reduce dependence on out-of-county INMSS placements.

Hubbard emphasized the importance of keeping children within the county: "We want children who require special school placements to remain locally, and we are determined to meet that demand. We are actively ensuring that children and young people with SEND receive the appropriate education in the right setting."

Author: Zoe Harrison