Buckinghamshire Council continues to expand SEND provision across the county

As part of this ongoing work, the Council is expanding provision at existing special schools, bringing forward new SEND sites, and exploring options to create new specialist SEND units within mainstream school settings.

Over the past five years, Buckinghamshire Council has invested over £10m in additional SEND provision creating 328 additional SEND places, with 298 of these already open and in use. These places have been created through expanding existing special schools and opening new SEND units at mainstream schools. Nearly 300 more SEND places are being planned over the next four years, at an estimated cost of around £18 million. The projects will be funded through the Government’s High Needs Capital Funding grant and S106 developer contributions for SEND provision. A further 100 new places should be open for the next academic year.

One such unit is at Juniper Hill School in Flackwell Heath, where ‘The Nest’ is a separate building for children with SEND that has been built on the main school site.

Juniper Hill Head teacher Claire Garnett said:

“We’re thrilled that the council has built this bespoke unit for us. It means we can provide specialist support for children who have had difficult childhoods and who have experienced trauma that means it’s overwhelming for them to be in mainstream school.

Here, they can still learn the curriculum but have all the additional help and support that they need to thrive at school and get the most from their education.”

Ade Osibogun is Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services. He said:

“It is an absolute priority to make sure every child in Buckinghamshire has the education they are entitled too. The pressures on SEND services are well-known and we are making major progress here in Buckinghamshire in increasing capacity in the system so every child who needs additional help with their education can get the tailored support they need.”

In addition, if the Department for Education confirms the new SEND Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) Free School that was agreed under the previous government, a further 152 specialist places will be created.

We would like to thank all schools that have come forward to explore the opportunity to provide additional SEND places, we really value the close relationship we have with our schools which is helping us all to meet the need for extra places for our children.”