West Sussex County Council is inviting people to share their feedback on informal proposals which would create additional school places for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
Consultations are open on the proposals to create a new Specialist Support Centre (SSC) at Buckingham Park School in Shoreham-by-Sea and the provision of additional places at Palatine Primary School by using the former Lyndhurst Infant School site in Worthing.
Councillor Jacquie Russell, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Learning, said: “In West Sussex there has been a significant growth in the number of children and young people with additional or specialist educational support needs.
“We have identified these opportunities in the Adur and Worthing area to create additional places for children with SEND to enable pupils to attend school locally. Making the best use of the resources available to us, in line with Our Council Plan, could also reduce the number of children and young people with SEND moving from maintained schools and academies into costly education provision in the independent and non-maintained special school sector.
“I welcome feedback on the proposals from parents, carers, staff, professionals and the local community to help inform our decision making process moving forward.”
Buckingham Park School SSC proposals
The proposals for Buckingham Park School would see the adaption of surplus space to create an SSC for 12 pupils aged 4 to 11 years with social communication differences.
The creation of an SSC in the Adur area has been prioritised as part of the county council’s SEND Improvement Plan.
FIND OUT MORE AND TAKE PART: Proposed Specialist Support Centre at Buckingham Park Primary School | Your Voice West Sussex
Palatine Primary School satellite site proposals
The informal proposal to use the former Lyndhurst Infant School in Worthing as a satellite site of Palatine Primary School could accommodate up to 75 pupils with SEND. This would increase the school’s overall planned place numbers to 262.
Decreasing the number of pupils at school’s the main site in Goring-by-Sea would mean resources could be distributed to best support pupils. It would also remove the need for the current temporary classroom, which will allow for increased outdoor space at the school’s main site.
FIND OUT MORE AND TAKE PART: Proposed expansion of Palatine Primary School | Your Voice West Sussex
All responses need to be submitted before 11:55pm on 16 October when both consultations will close.
