Wiltshire is highest region for children needing additional support
Children with EHC plan has grown 11% each of the last three years
A report has revealed the rise in children and young people needing additional support is higher in Wiltshire than in the rest of England.
The number of children and young people with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan has grown by 11%, year on year, for the last three years.
According to the report presented to the Children’s Select Committee, the growth in demand arises from “autism spectrum disorder (36%), speech, communication and language needs (29 per cent) and social-emotional and mental health (25%).”
Demand nationally increased by 23% in 2022 and by 43.4% in Wiltshire, with the number of students with EHC plans equating to 4.2% of Wiltshire’s pupil population.
35% of children with an EHC plan are of primary age and 65% are of secondary age.
Wiltshire currently maintains 5,322 of these plans for children and young people up to the age of 25 years old.
The number of requests for an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment has continued to increase on a national scale following the SEND reforms in 2014.
The Children’s Select Committee was also updated on the status of the delays in work on the Silverwood Rowde new build.
Silverwood is a SEND school that formed in December 2020 and currently has campuses in Rowde, Trowbridge and Chippenham.
The work in Rowde was due to extend the existing campus to provide for 350 pupils by autumn 2023 but is currently 40 weeks behind schedule.
The four classes of new learners were installed into temporary accommodation in September.
Melissa Hardwell, the head of Special School Transformation, said: “The children absolutely love their temporary provision, as do their teachers.
“They are really happy with the quality of the provision they’ve got, which they will have at least most of this academic year.”
Silverwood School received a rating of Good at its first Ofsted inspection in October 2023.
Meanwhile, the refurbishment of Salisbury Academy for Inspirational Learning (SAIL) is on track for completion by December 2023.
Additionally, Melksham House will open in September 2024, catering for up to 75 learners.
Councillor Laura Mayes, deputy leader of Wiltshire Council, said:
“Whilst it’s good that we are increasing special school places, and we need to do that, everything we can do to get our mainstream schools to be more inclusive for children who have additional needs, the better it will be for everybody, particularly the children.”