More children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) will be able to access support closer to home, thanks to new plans approved by Ealing Council.
At a meeting of the council’s decision-making cabinet earlier this month, funding was approved to create up to 66 new specialist places at 2 mainstream schools in the borough, helping more pupils with SEND access the support they need and still be part of the local school community.
New dedicated learning spaces will be created at Acton Gardens Primary School, and Brentside High School in Hanwell.
A total of 36 SEND places will be offered at Acton Gardens, and 30 places at Brentside High. The places will start to become available from September.
The council will invest around £1.25million at Acton Gardens and £1million at Brentside to create specialist classrooms and support facilities.
The proposals received strong support during consultation, with more than 90% of respondents backing the plans at both schools. No formal objections were received during the statutory consultation period.
More families to receive support
Councillor Blerina Hashani, the council’s cabinet member for a fairer start, said: “Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive and achieve their full potential, and we are committed to making sure children and young people with special educational needs get the right support at the right time.
“By creating more specialist places in local schools, we can help children and young people access the support they need closer to home, while remaining connected to their local community. The proposals received support from parents, school staff and other stakeholders, and I look forward to seeing the positive difference they will make for local families.”
Harsha Patel, headteacher at Acton Gardens Primary School, said: “The new provision will enable us to support more children with SEND within their local community, providing specialist support while ensuring they remain fully included in the life of our school.”
Charlotte Hames, headteacher at Brentside High School, added: “We are incredibly proud to play an important role in supporting children and young people with SEND in our local community. This investment will enable us to provide high-quality specialist support while ensuring pupils remain fully involved in school life.
The investment forms part of the council’s ongoing commitment to expand SEND provision across the borough and ensure children and young people can access the right support in local schools.
Alongside the new facilities, the council’s cabinet also approved an additional £1.5million of government funding for future SEND projects across the borough, helping the council continue to develop specialist provision for local families.
