Thirty new specialist places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are now available in Milton Keynes schools for the current academic year.
Expansion of Specialist Bases
These additional places have been created through investment by Milton Keynes City Council. The council collaborated with four local mainstream schools to increase the number of SEND places and support.
The schools involved are Wood End Infant and Pre-School, Portfields Primary, Chestnuts Primary, and Oxley Park Academy. These institutions now feature ‘specialist bases’.
Specialist bases are dedicated areas within mainstream schools. They offer an alternative to attending a special school, allowing children to be educated alongside their peers and siblings in their local community.
Funding secured by the City Council from the government made this expansion possible. The new facilities include specialized teaching spaces with breakout areas, intervention rooms, and adapted curricula.
A team of specialist teachers and support staff have been appointed to meet the specific needs of children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
Commitment to Inclusive Education
Construction work, including internal remodelling and the addition of new buildings and entry points, was finished in time for the start of the new school term.
This initiative is part of a broader commitment by Milton Keynes City Council to enhance SEND provision across the city. Over the past year, the council has already facilitated more than 160 new SEND places through similar specialist bases in mainstream schools and by expanding existing special schools.
Future developments, such as the new primary school in Whitehouse South and the all-through school in Elverby, are being designed with integrated SEND facilities.
Councillor Peter Cannon, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, stated that the aim is for every child in Milton Keynes to have the chance to learn, thrive, and succeed as close to home as possible.
He highlighted that these specialist bases provide high-quality support within mainstream settings. This allows more children with SEND to learn within their local community, alongside friends and siblings.
The bases also help mainstream schools develop their inclusive practices and expertise. This ensures that specialist school places remain available for those with the most complex needs.
This story is based on reporting by MKFM. Read the original coverage: MKFM