Somerset Council is set to open six new special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) units in mainstream schools this coming autumn, marking a significant expansion in local provision for children with special needs. These new units, located in schools across Taunton, Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea, Watchet, Crewkerne, and Dulverton, are the first of 15 planned units aimed at addressing rising demand and improving access to education closer to home.
Traditionally, children with SEND in Somerset have been educated either in specialist schools built by the council or within mainstream schools as part of personalized education, health, and care plans (EHCPs). However, increasing numbers of children with EHCPs and full capacity at existing specialist schools have presented challenges, including high transport costs and delays in EHCP reviews, sparking parental complaints.
To tackle these issues, the council’s March proposal to create SEND units within existing mainstream schools will allow more children to receive specialized support without long commutes or placement far from their communities. Each unit will offer between six and eight places, except for the Maiden Beech Academy unit in Crewkerne (eight to sixteen places) and the Upton Noble unit near Bruton (four to six places). Feasibility studies are underway for an additional 12 schools in areas such as Bruton, Cheddar, Frome, Ilminster, Minehead, Wellington, Wincanton, and Yeovil, with further expansions possible pending available funding.
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Councillor Heather Shearer, Somerset’s portfolio holder for children, families, and education, emphasized the benefits: “Getting children into the right provision closer to home will be cheaper, but the best thing is that it will be better for them. They don’t then get stuck in a school miles and miles away from home, possibly not with their friends.”
Currently, over 500 children with EHCPs attend independent educational settings outside local schools, incurring significant costs to the council. Amelia Walker, the council’s education service director, highlighted the limitations faced: “Special schools are full to capacity, and some have exceeded their commissioned places to meet demand. The Department for Education has not been able to deliver new special schools quickly enough, affecting our local first approach and resulting in long commutes for children.”
Funding for these SEND units comes from the council’s capital budget via the high needs provision allocation, with nearly £16.8 million available. Although specific costs for each unit have not been detailed, the council expects annual savings between £13.7 million and £17.1 million by reducing expensive transport and related costs.
This expansion represents a vital step in improving local special needs education in Somerset, ensuring more children receive appropriate support within their communities.