West Sussex County Council are inviting people to share their views on plans to create additional places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) at Petworth Primary School to help address the ongoing shortfall of specialist places in the county.
If approved, the base would provide specialist support to children with social communication needs, while allowing them to be part of a mainstream school.
Demand for SEND school places continues to grow across West Sussex and the county council is working to increase capacity in both specialist and mainstream schools to ensure children can receive the support they need, closer to home.
Councillor Sam Raby, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Learning, said: “I’m a passionate believer that, where appropriate, more children with SEND should be given the opportunity to learn in mainstream schools in their local communities.
“We’re listening to what families are telling us and are proposing the special inclusion bases because they offer pupils the best of both worlds, combining access to specialist teaching, tailored support and dedicated resources with the opportunity to learn, socialise and grown alongside their peers.
“We’ve already committed a significant amount of capital investment in mainstream schools to support children with SEND. The proposed base at Petworth Primary School would form an important part of making good on that commitment, and supporting better starts in life for children and young people in our communities.”
The term ‘specialist inclusion base’ is the new name for specialist support centres across West Sussex, to align with national changes to the SEND system.
The proposed base at Petworth Primary School would provide specialist provision for up to 12 pupils with social communication differences, who are aged 4 to 11.
It would be created using existing available space at the school that, with adaptations, can be turned into a suitable environment to support SEND pupils.
The proposed base would include a classroom, a sensory and/or calm room, access to a quieter outside space and accessible toilets.
People are being invited to share their views by visiting the consultation page, where there is further information about the proposal.
The closing date for responses is 11:55pm on Monday 5 October.
