School to open £450k Send unit as demand surges

A school is preparing to open a new specialist education unit this month after the county saw a surge in demand for places.

The unit will cater for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) - including autism - at Iver Village Junior School in Buckinghamshire.

The new eight-place facility will operate alongside the school's existing 220 mainstream places and will be staffed by specialist teachers and assistants.

Buckinghamshire Council approved plans for the department, with the £450,000 refurbishment paid for by government.

It will be based in refurbished rooms at the front of the school and will have its own outdoor play area in a renovated courtyard.

Over the past five years, the number of children and young people with communication and interaction needs in Buckinghamshire has risen by 82% – an increase of 1,642 pupils.

A further 1,080 children with similar needs are expected to join schools in the county over the next five years, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The school wants to help pupils access the mainstream curriculum while also receiving specialist support.

The children will benefit from additional professionals, such as speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, and play therapists.

Paul Griffin, an independent councillor for Iver, said: "I am 100% in support of any initiative that takes learning to a better level for our Send youngsters and am very happy to support this plan.

"It will be fabulous to have this facility in our community and I hope this is the start of something bigger in The Ivers."

Fellow ward councillor Wendy Matthews said she fully supported the plans, describing the unit as a much-needed addition to local Send capacity.

During the initial public consultation, one objection was received.

The council said the proposal offered good value for money by providing local specialist places within a mainstream school and reducing the need for more costly placements in special or independent schools.

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