Plans for a new 125-place school for pupils with complex needs have emerged in Kirklees.
It is envisaged that the school would cater for children and young people aged eight to 16 and would be created in partnership with Delta Academies Trust. It would be known as an ‘Alternative Provision Free School’, bringing extra, high-quality specialist places and helping to meet local demand, the council says.
Alternative Provision often refers to education for those who are unable to attend a mainstream or special school and are not educated at home. This could be for a range of reasons, including behavioural or health issues.
The proposals, which are set out in a report to next Tuesday’s (10 FebruaryC) Cabinet meeting, come after a successful expression of interest from the Delta Academies Trust and Kirklees Council to the Department for Education (DfE).
If Cabinet members agree to the recommendations, the council will begin work with Delta Academies Trust and other partners in creating a school which will be operated by Delta. It would be funded by the DfE and is most likely to be based in a suitable existing building within Kirklees.
The aim is to support children and young people who have previously not thrived in the mainstream system, and raise their achievement to the highest possible levels, the council says. The proposal also includes establishing a specialist ‘task force’ model to work with learners and their families. This would be based at the school, providing on-site expertise from a range of organisations such as health, education and social care services.
The DfE has offered the council an alternative option, which would see the local authority accept a grant of £5,875,000 over three financial years, to secure the places that are needed locally through a different approach. However, this is not the favoured option and Cabinet is expected to progress the plans for the new school which will allow the council to save some cash in the long run.
Cabinet member for Education, Cllr Jane Rylah, said: “Our plans for the Alternative Provision Free School will make support even stronger for those with additional needs. Some pupils find learning more difficult than others, so they require extra support to overcome those challenges. We want to ensure there are enough of the right places for our learners.
“We already have a strong relationship with Delta Academies Trust, who deliver a high standard of alternative provision in safe, secure and inclusive environments. This funding enables us to create more places and locate them within Kirklees. It delivers value for money and allows our pupils to be educated closer to home.”
Cabinet member for Children’s Services, Cllr Viv Kendrick, said: “Alternative provision usually supports learners on a relatively short-term basis, with the aim that they will be integrated back into mainstream education. It removes barriers and provides vital support for children, young people and their families. Our plans to create the new school are another example of the council being ambitious for every learner, no matter what their circumstances may be.”
Chief Executive Officer of Delta Academies Trust, Andy Barnett, said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to work in partnership with Kirklees Council to help support some of the most vulnerable children in the borough, providing opportunities for these students to re-engage successfully with education.
“It is a privilege to be part of this project, which will help shape Kirklees children’s lives, giving them a strong educational offer that helps them thrive and achieve and be successful in their next destinations.”
Kirklees Council is already investing millions of pounds in rebuilding two local SEND schools. They are: Joseph Norton Academy, which caters for pupils with Social Emotional and Mental Health Needs; and Woodley School and College, which is for pupils with complex autism. There is also a variety of work to create additional SEND places in other settings.
