Northumberland County Council has approved a spend of more than £1.2 million to expand specialist education provision at the Dukes Secondary School in Ashington, creating up to 40 new places through four modular classrooms relocated to the site.
A report presented to the council's cabinet on Tuesday warned that without the additional places, the council could be unable to meet its statutory duty of providing adequate school places. The number of children with additional needs in Northumberland has soared in recent years, with a similar rise seen across the country.
Specialist capacity in mainstream schools
The council has been building up specialist capacity in mainstream schools to cope with recent demand. The Government is now implementing a similar strategy nationally.
Speaking at the cabinet meeting, Coun Nick Oliver said: "This is investment of up to £1.25 million in SEND expansion in Dukes Secondary School. It continues our strategy that we have had for some time of trying to implement and provide specialist education in mainstream settings - where possible and appropriate."
"That's very good for the children themselves, it's very good for the families because it means children are being educated closer to home, and it is efficient for the council in terms of cost. This is the direction of travel the Government are now talking about."
Four new classrooms and modular buildings
The move will create four new classrooms, each with capacity for between eight and ten children. Modular accommodation was identified as a "short term" solution as opposed to extensions or new-build options which would take longer to complete.
One of the modular buildings is being moved from Amble's James Calvert Spence College, which has been replaced by a new school building. The other is being transported from York.
Council leader Glen Sanderson added: "SEND pupils are just as important as our mainstream pupils. It is therefore only right we do everything we possibly can to provide the right accommodation for these pupils."
The plans were unanimously approved by the cabinet.
