Plan to increase number of Send places approved

Plans to use a former school to increase the number of places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) have been given the go-ahead.

Wiltshire Council has bought the former Calder House Independent School near Colerne and will turn it into a satellite campus of an existing Send school.

Jon Hubbard, cabinet member for children's services, education and skills, said the site, now known as the Northwood Centre, would help "ensure children and young people with Send receive the right education in the right place".

Creating 50 places at the Northwood Centre will cost £1.27m a year, compared to £3.1m for placements at independent non-maintained specialist schools (INMSS).

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

"Repurposing The Northwood Centre as a special school satellite will create urgently needed places locally, reduce costs, and deliver on our commitment to inclusive, high-quality education."

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

"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."

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