Strategies overhauled to meet rise in pupils with special needs

AN UNPRECEDENTED increase in the number of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities is causing local authorities across Yorkshire to overhaul their education strategies.

This year alone, North Yorkshire County Council has created 100 extra special school places, but more will be needed to meet the growing demand.

According to latest figures, there are currently more than 10,000 SEND children in North Yorkshire receiving support in schools. A further 3,200 pupils have needs so acute that they are subject to an Education and Health Plan, a figure which is predicted to rise by 1,000 by 2022.

To meet the growing need, Mowbray School recently opened a second site in Ripon and a further 72 full-time places for those with special needs will be found in mainstream schools in the next 12 months.

The county council has also successfully bid for a dedicated special school in Selby and it says the changes it has made in the last 12 months have already resulted in a decrease in the number of permanent exclusions among SEND pupils.

The executive member for education and skills, Coun Patrick Mulligan, said: “Supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities is one of the most important jobs we do and we go to great lengths to do the right thing.

“Our long-term plan was developed in collaboration with youngsters, their parents and carers, and professional partners.

“It is based on detailed forecasts of future demand to ensure we are commissioning the right type of provision in the right place to create a more sustainable and effective service.

“When we look back over this first year, we can see that we are already well on our way to making this plan to improve the life chances of young people with SEND a reality. However, we will also continue to put the case to the Government about the serious challenges we face.”

According to latest figures, the proportion of SEND pupils has risen for the third year in a row. As of January last year, there were 1.3 million pupils with SEND in England,

representing an increase of 42,085 since 2018, a year which saw a jump of 31,960 on 2017.

The national trend is reflected across Yorkshire, and to cope with the growing demand in Leeds a new specialist school in the north of the city is set to be given the go-ahead this week, creating 150 new school places for children and young people aged four to 16 years old with SEND.

A site which was once part of the Grammar School at Leeds has already been earmarked for the development and as part of the wider proposals, 50 additional places will also be created in nearby mainstream schools.

Leeds Council’s executive member for learning, skills and employment, Coun Jonathan Pryor, said: “If the plans are approved, this new school will contribute to addressing the citywide need for additional high quality specialist school places.

“Ensuring everyone in Leeds is able to do well at all levels of learning and have the skills they need for life is a priority for the council.

“These specialist places will help us to do this and will contribute towards our aspiration to improve educational attainment and close achievement gaps for children and young people vulnerable to poor learning outcomes.”

We are on our way to making this plan to improve life chances a reality.

Coun Patrick Mulligan, executive member for education and skills.