West Sussex County Council is inviting residents to share their views on new proposals to expand school places for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
The informal consultations focus on two projects in the Adur and Worthing area: the creation of a Specialist Support Centre (SSC) at Buckingham Park School in Shoreham-by-Sea and additional places at Palatine Primary School in Worthing, by making use of the former Lyndhurst Infant School site.
Councillor Jacquie Russell, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Learning, said demand for specialist provision is increasing across the county.
“In West Sussex there has been a significant growth in the number of children and young people with additional or specialist educational support needs.
“We have identified these opportunities in the Adur and Worthing area to create additional places for children with SEND to enable pupils to attend school locally. Making the best use of the resources available to us, in line with Our Council Plan, could also reduce the number of children and young people with SEND moving from maintained schools and academies into costly education provision in the independent and non-maintained special school sector.
“I welcome feedback on the proposals from parents, carers, staff, professionals and the local community to help inform our decision-making process moving forward.”
Buckingham Park School plans
At Buckingham Park School, surplus space would be adapted to create a Specialist Support Centre for up to 12 pupils aged four to eleven with social communication differences. The scheme is part of the council’s SEND Improvement Plan and aims to increase provision within the Adur area.
FIND OUT MORE AND TAKE PART: Proposed Specialist Support Centre at Buckingham Park Primary School | Your Voice West Sussex
Palatine Primary School plans
In Worthing, the former Lyndhurst Infant School site could be repurposed as a satellite site of Palatine Primary. This would provide places for up to 75 pupils with SEND, increasing the school’s overall planned capacity to 262.
FIND OUT MORE AND TAKE PART: Proposed expansion of Palatine Primary School | Your Voice West Sussex
Feedback from parents, carers, school staff, professionals and the wider community will help shape the next steps in the decision-making process.
All responses need to be submitted before 11:55pm on 16 October when both consultations will close.
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