Parents, young people, community groups and others are invited to comment on plans to open further facilities for pupils with special educational needs, which will allow even more children with special educational needs to attend a local school.
The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead is consulting on four proposed projects to enhance provision for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), using £1.4m from the Department for Education.
Many local children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) are currently educated outside the borough. Expanding the local supported education offer will allow more of them to benefit from attending a school or college closer to home, if they choose.
The four proposals are:
- additional post-16 provision for young people with SEND at Berkshire College of Agriculture (BCA).
- a Resource Base for children with EHCPs for Autistic Spectrum Condition at Churchmead School.
- opening sixth form places at Forest Bridge School.
- a small number of additional places at Manor Green School.
There is more information in the consultation document or in the online survey.
What you say matters
Parents, staff, governors and community organisations are all being consulted. Your views are vital so please take time to be part of this consultation.
You can tell us what you think by:
- completing the online survey.
- printing out and completing the response form and returning it to your school or sending it to the address below.
- writing to us at SEND and AP Capital Strategy Consultation, School Places and Capital Team, Zone F, Town Hall, Maidenhead, SL6 1RF.
- Emailing schoolplaces@achievingforchildren.org.uk.
The closing date for your comments is midday on Friday 26 April 2024.
What happens after the consultation finishes?
The schools and colleges involved in this consultation and the Royal Borough will consider the responses received. Each school/college will decide whether it wants to proceed, and the Royal Borough’s Cabinet will then consider the proposals on Wednesday 22 May 2024.
The new provision will start to open from September 2025 onwards.
These proposals are likely to be subject to getting planning permission for any new buildings. In the case of the academy (Forest Bridge School) the Department for Education will also need to approve the proposals.
Questions about the proposals
If you have any questions about admissions arrangements or the proposed changes, you can contact us at schoolplaces@achievingforchildren.org.uk.