Plans For 44 New SEND School Places To Be Decided Amid Growing Demand

Plans to create 44 additional Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) school places on the Isle of Wight will go before councillors next week as the authority looks to address growing demand for specialist education provision.

Members of the Isle of Wight Council's Children's Services, Education and Skills Committee will be asked to approve proposals to expand Medina House School in Newport and create a new specialist provision at The Bay CE School.

If approved, Medina House School would increase its capacity from 168 to 204 places, creating an additional 36 places for pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

The expansion is planned for September 2027 and would be delivered at the former Barton Primary School site.

Meanwhile, an eight-place resourced provision is proposed at The Bay CE School's secondary campus, with the new facility expected to open from September this year.

Council officers say both projects are needed to help meet increasing demand for specialist school places on the Island, with more children requiring support through an EHCP.

According to a report due before councillors, around 6.5 per cent of the Isle of Wight's school population currently has an Education, Health and Care Plan.

The report states that, following consultation and further review, officers concluded both schemes should proceed because of the urgent need for additional specialist provision.

Education, Health and Care Plans are designed for children and young people up to the age of 25 who require support beyond that available through standard special educational needs provision.

The proposed expansion of Medina House School is expected to require capital investment of around £1.5 million, funded through the Department for Education's High Needs Capital Funding allocation.

Once fully occupied, the additional places would carry an estimated annual revenue cost of just over £1 million.

At The Bay CE School, capital investment is expected to total £15,000, with further funding allocated for specialist resources and equipment.

A public consultation on the proposals closed earlier this month, with council documents reporting generally positive feedback from attendees at drop-in sessions.

The final decision will be made when education councillors meet at County Hall on Thursday 2nd July.