The deadline for responses is midnight on Sunday, March 31. You can apply online or call 0116 305 7150 or email SEND-Consultation@leics.gov.uk for enquiries, or to request a hard copy of the consultation document and questionnaire
Have your say on plans to invest up to £20m in developing new provision for children and young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) in Leicestershire.
We have launched a three-month consultation on the proposals.
These include:
- Expanding the council’s existing special schools
- Creating up to 15 new SEND ‘units’, or ‘enhanced resource bases’ in mainstream schools
- Building three new special schools: two for social, emotional and mental health needs (SEMH) and one for communication and interaction needs (this includes autistic spectrum disorder – ASD)
- Creating more places in our existing enhanced resource bases
Enhanced resource bases are small units with specialist staff where children can benefit from smaller teaching groups and extra help, whilst still having access to the mainstream school for certain activities.
These and exciting, ambitious plans which we believe are very much needed, and we’d love to hear your views on how the new provision should look, feel and operate through our short questionnaire.
“The majority of children with SEND can have their needs met with support in mainstream schools. However, we believe that where specialist provision is needed, this should be as close as possible to the child’s community and, wherever possible, in a specialist provision that allows them to benefit from aspects of mainstream school life.
“If we increase local capacity in our own schools we believe it will not only help ease the pressure on our budgets but will also ensure that families can access appropriate high quality education in their communities.
Person:Ivan Ould, Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for children and families
A series of meetings are being held in Wigston, Melton, Loughborough, Coalville and Hinckley from the end of February, for anyone who would like to find out more. Booking isn’t necessary and full details are available here
The consultation is asking for views on how the new provision should look and feel. In the spring more information will be available on the type and proposed location of the provisions.
The council’s ruling cabinet will consider the responses to the consultation when it meets in the summer.