Cabinet set to take further action to boost SEND provision in Lancashire
Councillors are expected to take further action to bolster support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Lancashire, part of an ongoing strategy to increase provision across the county.
At its meeting on Thursday 8 September, cabinet will be asked to give final approval to expand the satellite provision at Thornton Cleveleys Red Marsh School: Willow Campus by 20 additional places. The cabinet will also be asked to give final approval to expand Lostock Hall Moor Hey School by 20 additional places, which will be based on the existing school site.
Formal consultations were carried out at both schools between June and July this year and the overwhelming majority of the responses received were in support of the proposals.
The county council's cabinet will review the responses at its next meeting, before making a final decision on the plans.
Councillors will also be asked to approve the initiation of a feasibility study and informal consultation to expand and increase the number of places at Kingsbury Primary School, a co-educational special school in Skelmersdale. The proposal is to increase the number of places at the school from 89 to 100.
Kingsbury Primary, which continues to be an 'Outstanding' school following a short Ofsted inspection in March 2017, is proposing to create additional teaching space by installing a modular building on the main school site.
All the proposals are part of the implementation of the council's Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Sufficiency Strategy. The strategy, which was approved by cabinet in October 2020, was developed in response to the increase in demand for specialist SEND provision in particular areas across Lancashire.
Since then, a series of actions have been taken by council with the overarching goal of improving SEND provision across the county.
Cllr Jayne Rear, cabinet member for education and skills at Lancashire County Council, said: "We identified some time ago the need for special school places across the county.
"That's why we have taken several steps over the past two years to ensure children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities get the right support.
"The expansion of Thornton Cleveleys Red Marsh School and Lostock Hall Moor Hey School will ensure more children and young people achieve their full potential in education and future employment.
"We also fully support Kingsbury Primary School's proposals to increase the number of places it can offer, which will allow even more children will be able to attend this outstanding school."