Derbyshire Schools Secure £3.2 Million for Expanded SEND Provisions

Funds totaling approximately £3 million are designated for three schools in Derbyshire to expand provisions for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). During a cabinet meeting held on Thursday, Derbyshire County Council formally approved funding amounting to £3,195,777. This allocation aims to create an additional 500 spaces across educational institutions located in Ilkeston, Long Eaton, and Belper. This decision follows the council’s earlier commitment in July of an £11 million budget, intended to boost the number of school places for children with special educational needs by approximately 300 over the subsequent two years. The council stated that the initiative encompasses modifications to current structures, the establishment of appropriate outdoor amenities, and the procurement of specialized equipment. The capital funds are earmarked for projects at Bennerley Fields School in Ilkeston, Stanton Vale Special School in Long Eaton, and the Holbrook School for Autism in Belper. Derbyshire County Council indicated that these new provisions are intended to be “better geographically spread and be accessible to as many Derbyshire families with high-needs children as possible,” as an alternative to constructing new special schools in particular localities. For Bennerley Fields School, the council sanctioned a £2.6 million plan to establish three new classrooms, designed to accommodate 24 pupils, with the potential to expand to 30 pupils starting September 2025. In July, the cabinet had initially approved £320,000 for a project at Stanton Vale Special School in Long Eaton, aimed at refurbishing an existing wing to create 22 additional places for pupils with SEND from September 2024, expanding to 35 places by September 2025. The council reported an increase in the project’s cost, necessitating an additional £230,000 to advance the work. Regarding Holbrook School for Autism in Belper, £250,000 was approved in June 2021 to facilitate the initial phase of a school project, to be overseen by the Esteem Multi-Academy Trust (EMAT). The authority indicated that this would generate two extra places for students with autism spectrum disorder and severe learning difficulties. The second phase of the project is designed to enable EMAT to “self-manage the refurbishment and remodelling” of the adjacent Whitemoor Centre building, thereby accommodating more pupils with SEND. The council confirmed that interim funding of £365,777 was approved during the meeting to compensate EMAT for expenses incurred thus far.