Have your say on new special school places in Biggleswade and Shefford
Wednesday, 28 February 2024
We have launched two statutory consultations to ensure that more children and young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) have access to great education.
We are seeking feedback on a proposed expansion for Ivel Valley School and College, to meet the growing need for places, and the opening of a new Additional Resource Provision (ARP) at Shefford Lower School for children with social, emotional and mental health difficulties.
A growth in demand for special school provision within Central Bedfordshire has resulted in increased placements within the independent sector and outside of Central Bedfordshire.
From September 2017 to September 2023 Central Bedfordshire experienced an almost 94% increase in EHC plans. This compares to 65% nationally.
Ivel Valley School and College operates from three different sites. The main school is based at Hitchmead Road, two classes catering for key stage 2 and 3 children are based in satellite classes at Biggleswade Academy and the sixth form is based at The Baulk.
The expansion at Ivel Valley by 23 places from September 2024 is required to cater for the children moving from the Biggleswade Academy site due to this school’s move from a middle school to a primary school this September and will also accommodate a small number of additional children. These additional places at the school are being phased at the Hitchmead Road site before the construction of a new school building.
At Shefford Lower School, the Council is proposing to create a new Additional Resource Provision (ARP) attached to mainstream school to support 12 pupils with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) requirements.
Councillor Hayley Whitaker, Executive Member for Families, Education and Children, said:
We want to make sure every child or young person with SEND has access to a high-quality education near their home and community. So, we’ve listened to parents’ thoughts about the need for more special school places and now we are taking action. We've set aside around £50million to make sure these changes happen across Central Bedfordshire to help children with complex needs get the support they need to learn and grow.
Relocating pupils from Ivel Valley’s satellite sites through the refurbishment at Hitchmead Road will allow for all pupils at the school to benefit from enhanced SEND provision and enable the school to provide additional support to students, currently not available or not accessed by all pupils due to the school being on a split site.
And at Shefford Lower School, pupils attending the Additional Resource Provision will have access to a mainstream curriculum and a safe space to be, where their needs are met. I’d urge as many people as possible to have their say on these proposals via the consultation questionnaires.
Read more about Shefford Lower School and have your say
Read more about Ivel Valley Special School and have your say