Council To Begin Consultation On Special Education Needs And Disabilities Expansion

An empty former primary school could be transformed into a satellite site for an Isle of Wight special school.

County Hall is looking to imminently begin a consultation on its proposed expansion of SEND provision, the council’s education boss has said.

Expansion of two Isle of Wight special schools could be on the cards.

Speaking to the corporate scrutiny committee on Tuesday evening, director of children’s services Ashley Whittaker set out the plans which include the expansion of Medina House School and St George’s School.

The proposals include expanding places at Medina House School from 138 places to 168, with 30 being provided at a ‘satellite provision’ at the site of the former Chillerton and Rookley Primary School.

A report due to be presented at cabinet recommends a consultation on seven expansion proposals.

Mr Whittaker said:

“This report relates to one of the pillars from the Education Strategy and it relates specifically to expanding the number of specialist educational places we have on the Island.

“I think it’s fairly well understood that on the Island there is a shortage of specialist places. The council has a statutory duty to make sure that all children have an appropriate place and at the moment, we are not in all cases meeting our statutory duties.

“The recommendation is about moving to a consultation on these (expansion) proposals. This is a statutory consultation so that this increased provision can be brought into reality in September, the start of the next academic year; the proposal is to go to a consultation on May 2.”

At Hunnyhill Primary School, the council is proposing to expand Social, Emotional and Mental Health resourced provision from eight to 12 places.

Resourced provision for autistic children and/or those with Complex Learning needs is proposed to expand from eight to 12 places at Brading CE Primary School.

There are also plans to increase resourced provision for autistic children at The Bay CE Primary School (secondary site) from 15 to 20 places.

At the Island Learning Centre, which is to become the Lionheart School, the council is proposing to expand SEND places from 60 to 120, with 60 complex high anxiety mental health places provided at the Cowes Primary School site, subject to its August 31 closure.

Places at St George’s School are proposed to expand from 208 to 228 places, with 40 provided at a ‘satellite site’ in East Cowes.

Additionally, County Hall’s report proposes a new 12 place primary resourced provision at Brighstone CE Primary School for autistic children and/or children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs.

The cabinet will this evening (Thursday) decide on whether to approve the publishing of public notices for the proposed expansions.