Rotherham warned it could need 1,000 more SEND school places by 2030
Forecasting suggests the borough may need up to 700 additional SEND places in mainstream schools and more than 300 places in specialist schools
Rotherham could need more than 1,000 additional school places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) by the end of the decade, according to new council forecasts.
A report, approved by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council’s cabinet during a meeting yesterday (February 9), reccommended the adoption of a new three-year SEND Sufficiency Strategy, to ensure there are enough school places as demand continues to rise.
Forecasting in the report suggests the borough may need up to 700 additional SEND places in mainstream schools and more than 300 places in specialist schools by 2030 as the number of children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) continues to grow.
RMBC say demand locally is higher than the national picture, with 17.1 per cent of pupils receiving SEND support and 6.2 per cent having an EHCP, compared with national averages of 14.2 per cent and 5.3 per cent.
The most common primary needs identified in Rotherham EHCPs are autism (35 per cent), social, emotional and mental health needs (23 per cent), speech, language and communication needs (17 per cent), and moderate learning difficulties (12.7 per cent).
The strategy sets out a number of measures to meet demand, including expanding specialist provision within mainstream schools, increasing capacity in special schools, and reducing reliance on independent placements outside the borough.
It says this will involve continued investment in resource provision units on mainstream school sites, further development of local special schools, and targeted capital projects to improve accessibility and suitability of existing buildings.
The council says it has already expanded local provision, creating 336 additional special school places and 144 specialist SEND places in mainstream schools between 2021 and 2025.
Any further expansion will depend on how much funding the council receives from government. While £3.681m has already been confirmed for high-needs provision in 2025/26, funding beyond that has not yet been agreed.