£1.5 Million Expansion Plan For Medina House School To Go Out To Consultation

Plans to expand an Isle of Wight special school by £1.5million to help meet rising demand for SEND provision will now go out for public consultation.

The Isle of Wight Council’s children’s services, education and skills committee unanimously approved proposals on Thursday evening (5th March) to publish statutory notices to increase places at Medina House School in Newport from 168 to 204 pupils.

The expansion would include additional provision at the site of the former Old Barton Primary School, with a five-week consultation due to begin on 8th May.

Ashley Whittaker, the council’s Strategic Director of Children’s Services, said Medina House is the Island’s main primary special school and that expansion is necessary to meet growing need.

He said that while improvements in mainstream education may enable more children to have their needs met in those settings, there will always be pupils who require a specialist school place.

Despite the Island’s falling birth rate, demand for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) support has increased significantly. According to a committee report, 6.5% of the school population now has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

EHCPs are issued for children and young people up to the age of 25 who require additional support beyond standard special educational needs provision.

They outline education, health and social care needs and set out the support required to meet them.

The report states the council has a legal duty to ensure there are sufficient specialist school places available on the Isle of Wight.

The proposed expansion would require £1.5million in capital funding, to be met through the Government’s high needs capital allocation.

Ongoing revenue costs have also been calculated at £1,064,844 per year once the additional 36 places are full – equivalent to around £29,579 per pupil.

Following the consultation period, a report detailing the findings will be presented to a future committee meeting for further consideration.