We are set to invest over £1.5million in supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
Cabinet members have agreed to allocate funding for a range of projects which will develop specialist facilities at three schools in the district.
The investment is part of a wider programme to ensure that specialist schools and settings are able to meet the needs of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) locally, helping them to enjoy the best start in life.
What will the money provide?
The money will provide more flexible accommodation and will support young people to make progress in all areas of the curriculum, which has a major impact on their successful transition to adult life.
Cllr Carole Pattison, Cabinet member for Learning, Aspiration and Communities, said:
“We want all of our children and young people to have positive educational experiences and to receive the best possible support. This leads to better outcomes and is vital in helping them to fulfil their potential.
The council, along with the Kirklees family of schools, does a huge amount of great work in supporting children with SEND, and their families. The aim of this major investment is to ensure that a vulnerable group of people can attend local settings which provide excellent standards of care and facilities.”
The individual projects are:
Two new classrooms and a breakout space at Ravenshall School in Dewsbury. These will be used by all pupils and, in total, the project will cost an estimated £525,000. Ravenshall caters for pupils with complex needs. The majority have complex learning difficulties combined with other special educational needs such as behavioural difficulties or Autistic Spectrum Disorders. A number of students have more complex learning needs, including sensory and physical impairments and specific learning difficulties.
Around £450,000 for further improvements to SEND provision at Newsome High School, Huddersfield, which has dedicated facilities for Hearing Impairment and Physical Impairment. This will include conversion of two classrooms to offer both social and teaching spaces. Other works will mean the physiotherapy room can focus on each pupil’s physical needs.
Reconfiguring Honley High School to create a new series of rooms allocated to specialist provision. The facilities will be integrated with the mainstream school whilst also having their own access and helping students with SEND to freely circulate. Honley High School has around 250 students with SEND and there is specialist provision for those with Communication and Interaction Needs. The works are estimated at £550,000.