Former school could become campus for Send pupils

A former school could be used to increase places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send).

Wiltshire Council want the Calder House Independent School, near Colerne, to become a satellite campus of an existing special school. The council has not said which school yet.

The planned campus, now known as the Northwood Centre, would cost £1.27m a year for 50 high-need places compared to £3.1m for placements at independent non-maintained specialist schools (INMSS).

Jon Hubbard, of Wiltshire Council, said: "[The campus] will create urgently-needed places locally, reduce costs, and deliver on our commitment to inclusive, high-quality education."

On average, one full time INMSS placement costs £62,219 compared to an average maintained or academy special school placement cost of £25, 471, the council said.

The council said the Northwood Centre plan could reduce reliance on Independent non-maintained specialist school (INMSS) placements for children, which are often located outside the county.

Mr Hubbard added: "We want our children in need of a special school place to remain in our county and are determined to meet that need.

"We are taking proactive steps to ensure children and young people with Send receive the right education in the right place," he said.

Philip Tansley, CEO of charity Wiltshire Portage which supports Send families, said the plans are "good" but there was still "a way to go" for Send provision.

He said: "I had a child with Send and there is always a worry where the provision is going to come from in the future.

"Wiltshire Council is still pretty good compared to a lot of other councils.

"They only have so much money and it is a question of balancing the books, which is the hard thing."