Cabinet members have approved plans to open a new school in Kirklees for up to 125 pupils with complex needs.
The school will cater for children and young people aged 8 to 16 and be created in partnership with Delta Academies Trust. It will be an ‘Alternative Provision Free School’, bringing extra, high-quality specialist places and helping to meet local demand.
Alternative provision often refers to education for those who are unable to attend a mainstream or special school and are not educated at home. This could be for a range of reasons, including behavioural or health issues.
Support is tailored to individual needs, helping pupils to fulfil their potential, and the new school is a further boost to local provision for children and families with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Cabinet members have agreed that the council can begin work with Delta Academies Trust and other partners in creating a school which will be operated by Delta.
It will be funded by the national Department for Education and is most likely to be based in a suitable existing building within Kirklees.
Cllr Jane Rylah, Cabinet member for Education, said:
“Our plans for the Alternative Provision Free School will make support even stronger for those with additional needs.
“Some pupils find learning more difficult than others, so they require extra support to overcome those challenges. We want to ensure there are enough of the right places for our learners.
“We already have a strong relationship with Delta Academies Trust, who deliver a high standard of alternative provision in safe, secure and inclusive environments.
“This enables us to create more places and locate them within Kirklees. It delivers value for money and allows our pupils to be educated closer to home.”
Cllr Viv Kendrick, Cabinet member for Children’s Services, said:
“Alternative provision usually supports learners on a relatively short-term basis, with the aim that they will be integrated back into mainstream education.
“It removes barriers and provides vital support for children, young people and their families. Our plans to create the new school are another example of the council being ambitious for every learner, no matter what their circumstances may be.”
What will the school offer?
The school’s offer will include excellent teaching and learning opportunities, providing a high-quality alternative to the mainstream curriculum. The aim is to support those who have previously not thrived in the mainstream system, raising their achievement to the highest possible levels.
Cabinet also agreed to establish a specialist ‘task force’ model to work with learners and their families. This will be based at the school, providing on-site expertise from a range of organisations such as health, education and social care services.
Andy Barnett, Chief Executive Officer of Delta Academies Trust, said:
“We are delighted to have the opportunity to work in partnership with Kirklees Council to help support some of the most vulnerable children in the borough, providing opportunities for these students to re-engage successfully with education.
“It is a privilege to be part of this project, which will help shape Kirklees children’s lives, giving them a strong educational offer that helps them thrive and achieve and be successful in their next destinations.”
The council is already making a multi-million pound investment to rebuild, expand and relocate two local SEND schools. They are Joseph Norton Academy, which caters for pupils with Social Emotional and Mental Health Needs, and Woodley School and College, which is for pupils with complex autism. There is also a variety of work to create additional SEND places in other settings.
Our Kirklees Futures
Helping learners to access the best facilities and opportunities is a key part of Our Kirklees Futures – the long-term vision for learning across the district. Our Kirklees Futures brings together the full range of education providers, plus wider partners, with the shared aim that learners of all ages will be equipped with vital skills for life.