The government today (April 9) unveiled plans to invest £280m in school facilities designed to assist children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Councils will receive the funding to create new places in schools, academies, colleges and early years settings. The funding will improve existing provision to create modern, fit-for-purpose spaces suited to a wider range of pupil needs. [emaillocker id=”71749″]

Minister for the School System, Baroness Berridge said: “It is so important that all children and young people, whatever their background, are able to attend a good school that helps them thrive and gives them the building blocks they need to go on to fulfil their potential.

“For pupils with more complex needs or disabilities, it is especially important that the right facilities and support are in place at whatever school they attend, so they can learn in a modern, adaptable environment. This funding will help councils provide targeted support to level up outcomes for some of their most vulnerable pupils.”

The investment follows on from £365m allocated through the Special Provision Capital Fund to create places and improve facilities for pupils with SEND across 2018 to 2021.

Children and Families Minister Vicky Ford added: “Every child or young person with SEND should go to school feeling confident that they will get the tailored support they need at school, and every teacher should be equipped with the right facilities to teach those pupils.

“We have already increased the high needs budget by nearly a quarter over the past two years. This additional investment will enable local authorities to invest more in creating excellent school places or enhancing existing provision so that pupils with additional needs and disabilities get the same opportunities as any other.”

Graham Olway MBE, National Chairman of the Education Building Development Officers Group, added: “We welcome this announcement of extra High Needs funding to help support the work of local authorities in meeting the needs of children with a range of needs in schools.

“The funding allows more opportunities and projects to be fulfilled in an area of growing need for local authorities.” [/emaillocker]