Swindon is set to benefit from a significant boost in school places for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), with over £3.4 million in funding awarded to the Borough. The Department of Education funding will be used to increase capacity and improve existing facilities for children and young people with SEND, ensuring more local opportunities for quality education.
On 12th February, Cabinet Members will meet to decide whether to allocate the new funding towards expanding current specialist provisions and establishing new Complex Needs Units for primary and secondary schools. If approved, the expansion will create up to 158 additional places for SEND students across the Borough, allowing more children to receive the support they need closer to home.
The Council has already made significant strides in SEND education, with over £22 million invested in new provisions in recent years. More than 60 young people with SEND have already benefited from newly-created places at three Swindon schools this academic year, including a new campus at UTC Swindon, which is operated by Churchward School.
In addition to the new school places, a specialist SEND nursery is set to open in Penhill later this year. Plans for a new special school, which will provide additional places for children aged 4 to 19, are also progressing. As part of the funding, £100,000 will be dedicated to ensuring schools can offer accessible changing spaces, catering to the increasing number of young people with physical impairments attending mainstream schools.
Councillor Adorabelle Amaral-Shaikh, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, expressed her enthusiasm about the additional funding. She said: “This additional government funding will make a positive difference to children and young people in Swindon. It’s a key part of our ongoing work to provide local, specialist provision across our schools, and it will help us build a fairer Swindon by improving access to education for children with SEND needs.”
This funding announcement highlights the Council’s continued commitment to enhancing SEND provision, ensuring children with special educational needs have the support they need to thrive in their education.
For further updates on the expansion of SEND provisions in Swindon, keep an eye on local news or visit the Swindon Borough Council website.
