Plan to redevelop site so it can offer 140 places for children with a wide range of additional needs
Cheshire East Council has taken a novel approach to meeting increased demand for provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). It has agreed to fund the development of the council’s own former HQ, Westfields in Sandbach, into a new SEND school.
Westfields in Sandbach, photo courtesy of Cheshire East Council
This is a hot topic at the moment. Just yesterday, we reported that the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) reports that spending on SEND provision is spending in England is set to more than double between 2015 and 2028.
Meanwhile, the f40 group of local authorities is campaigning for a review of what it calls ‘staggering’ differences in levels of core SEND funding offered to different councils, citing disparities ranging from £920 to £3,800 per pupil.
The project to redevelop Westfields in Cheshire East will be included in the council’s revised capital programme, while a previous plan to expand provision of Springfield School by using a site at Middlewich has now been paused.
In the future, the council intends to direct SEND capital investment at strengthening mainstream inclusion, embedding inclusive practices across all its schools in the region, so that schools adapt and respond earlier to need. In doing so, the hope is that, over time, more pupils can have their needs met locally. This will in turn reduce reliance on specialist placements while enabling children to thrive in familiar environments.
Cllr Laura Crane, Chair of the Children and Families Committee at Cheshire East Council, says: ‘Our priority is to give every child in Cheshire East the best possible start in life. As we develop our SEND sufficiency and inclusion strategies, we want to ensure that children are firmly at the heart of our future plans. Our goal is to strengthen an inclusive education system where every child can access the support and opportunities they need to thrive.
‘Following the government’s update on free schools last month, pursuing both previously proposed expansions at Springfield and Westfields would use all available SEND capital and only address one area of pressure. By pausing the Springfield project and progressing with Westfields, we can deliver a centrally located school that reduces transport times and experiences for families. The future of the Flag Lane Baths site is still being considered, and we will continue to work with the Department for Education on next steps.
‘Ultimately, strengthening inclusion in mainstream schools will help more pupils have their needs met locally. Investing in early intervention, developing our workforce and providing targeted support will help us manage increasing demand by meeting needs before a formal assessment is required.
‘We are committed to supporting all children and listening carefully to families. However, we are frustrated by longstanding national pressures outside the council’s control which continue to drive rising demand and increased costs for specialist placements. I strongly support the call for long‑term reform focused on early intervention, increased resources and better inclusion in mainstream education. We look forward to further national direction in the upcoming Schools White Paper.’
In related news:
Leave a Reply