Herefordshire council "working hard" to provide better access to learning for SEND children
An additional £4.23 million will be invested in Herefordshire schools and facilities
A Herefordshire councillor says it's important children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can receive the education they need without having to go outside of county.
The council announced last week an extra £4.23 million from government will be invested in schools and facilities, to provide better access to learning and create more spaces in mainstream schools for children with SEND.
They say the budget will be used for the likes of a refurbishment project of the Ryefield Centre in Ross-on Wye to create a small special school, along with the expansion of inclusions in Aylestone School, Leominster and Trinity Primary Schools.
Cabinet member for Children and Young People Ivan Powell says the funding is important as all children should be able to have access to the education they need in county.
"It's really critical that we increase capacity," he said.
"What we've seen is an increasing demand, combined with limitations on our ability to create new provision, and that means the independent sector is the only part of the system which can react when additional provision is needed, and these are often out of county placements.
"With this new expansion, we can reduce our reliance on the independent sector, create that climate of inclusion, and enable access and availability to high quality education in Herefordshire."
The council say this programme of works is on top of a £2.67 million investment into the expansion of the Language and Communication Centre (LCC) at Hampton Dene Primary School and improvements at Barrs Court School.