Derby City Council is forging ahead with its expansion and enhancement of educational opportunities for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Derby.
A programme of work is underway to create 400 additional specialist places in the city’s schools over the next two years, with an investment of £20m approved in 2024 via the SEND and Alternative Provision Sufficiency and Capital Investment Programme.
Cabinet members will receive an update on the programme at their meeting on September 10. A key part of the discussion will be a proposal for an increased investment in St James House, which was acquired by the council last November to expand the places available at the Castle School.
The additional funding will facilitate a range of improvements, including a new science laboratory and ICT suite, an upgraded kitchen and food technology area, new toilets and an outside seating area, and additional building works. These enhancements will transform the site into a state-of-the-art learning and therapeutic environment that matches the high standards of other special schools in Derby.
Councillor Paul Hezelgrave, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Skills, said:
We’re committed to creating the best possible educational opportunities for children and young people with SEND and we’re already seeing significant progress. By creating more places in our city, we’re not only giving children a first-class learning environment but also ensuring they can thrive close to their families and communities.
The investment in St James House, in particular, will provide a state-of-the-art facility for students at the Castle School, and we’re confident that this programme will make a real and lasting difference to the lives of our young people.
Locally and nationally, the SEND system is experiencing increasing demand and is under significant pressure as the cost of provision outstrips funding provided by the Government.
Providing more places within the city will mean more children will access vital education within their own community, alongside their peers and close to their families, reducing the need for placements outside the area.
The Council’s specialist advisory SEND team works closely with schools to improve the experience of children with SEND in mainstream schools, helping to improving their facilities to better support pupils with additional needs.
Eight schools have applied for funding for projects that will improve accessibility and create bespoke spaces for children with SEND. Schools will also be able to apply for funding to create sensory pods to improve the experience of pupils with additional needs.
Cabinet members will also be updated on planned improvements at other city schools, under the Inclusive Environments scheme. All capital developments are funded by the Department for Education.