More children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) could get the support they need closer to home, following plans to create more specialist places across Somerset.
Around £8.9 million will be invested in new and improved SEND provision, including 104 new places at 11 mainstream schools and up to 24 additional places at The Mendip School.
The 11 schools proposed for new specialist provision are:
- Avishayes Community Primary School, Chard
- Blackbrook Primary School, Taunton
- Court Fields School, Wellington
- Fairlands Middle School, Cheddar
- Herne View Church of England Primary School, Ilminster
- Maiden Beech Academy, Crewkerne
- St Benedict’s Church of England VA Junior School, Glastonbury
- St John’s Church of England VC Infants School, Glastonbury
- West Monkton Church of England School, Bathpool
- Whitstone School, Shepton Mallet
- Woolavington Village Primary School, Woolavington
These schools would have dedicated spaces where children can receive specialist teaching and support while still being part of their wider school community.
Plans also include making more schools accessible for children with disabilities or medical needs, with improvements such as ramps, lifts, hygiene rooms and specialist facilities.
Between 2027 and 2030, 42 new inclusion support bases are also planned. These will provide extra help for children who are finding it difficult to access education, including those who may not need an Education, Health and Care Plan.
There are also plans for more alternative provision in Frome and West Somerset.
The proposals have now been approved by Somerset Council’s Executive. More detailed work will now take place before the individual projects are confirmed.
