Developing new SEND provision

The local authority has been working with schools and colleges to develop new SEND provision within the County. This provision will better support vulnerable learners to access education in schools in their local area and to develop friendships and peer groups in their own communities and thereby support improved long term outcomes for these learners.

Three new specialist special schools have opened since 2015, creating increased in-County provision for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) & Social Emotional and Mental Health issues (SEMH):

• Discovery Academy, Nuneaton
• Quest Academy (temporarily in Nuneaton, but to move to Rugby)
• Arden Fields School, Henley

Five SEN Resourced Provision for learners with complex communication and interaction (C&I) needs have been developed at the following locations:

• Peter’s Place at Trinity High School, Leamington Spa – 8 places
• Evergreen at Water Orton Primary – 8 places
• Maple Class at Lillington Primary School, Leamington Spa – 8 places
• The Bridge at Middlemarch Junior School, Nuneaton – 8 places
• The Haven at Stockingford Primary School, Nuneaton – 8 places

We are working with other schools so that we have one secondary and two primary SEN Resourced Provisions in each area of the County. Admission to specialist settings is agreed via the County Admissions Panel for Specialist Settings.

Other developments include:

• Brooke School Partnerships at Rokeby Primary School (8 places) and Harris School (8 places)  for learners with a range of SEN
• Exhall Grange Coleshill Learning Pod – 8 places for learners with acute SEMH in Key Stages 3&4
• ‘Link’ bases at Wheelwright Lane Primary School and Stockingford primary School providing short term intervention for learners with SEMH

This has already had and will increasingly have a crucial impact in reducing High Needs Block expenditure on out-of-authority provision. It will also contribute significantly to reductions in SEN transport costs.