A Melksham landmark will take on a new role from autumn 2024 as final preparations are on course for it to open as a school for special educational needs.
Melksham House has undergone refurbishment to provide schooling for up to 45 primary aged and up to 25 places for secondary age young people for an agreed period based on demand.
At a cabinet meeting on 12 December, council leaders agreed the process for appointing the education provider who will take on the learning role for the new school.
The opening of the school will ensure more children and young people can stay local rather than being bussed out to out of county placements or having Education Other Than in School packages of support.
There is currently no specialist primary school provision for children who have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) with Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs (SEMH) in Wiltshire. There is also an increasing number of secondary age children with an EHCP who require a specialist provision to support their needs, including children and young people who experience anxiety.
Cllr Jane Davies, Cabinet Member for SEND, said, “We want our children and young people to have their education in Wiltshire at a school they attend full time that works for them and meets their needs. This is an important move by Wiltshire Council to ensure we have a high-quality, first-class education for pupils attending this school. The next key step will be to appoint the education provider and ensure everything is ready for the next school year.”
The tender process will aim to appoint an education provider who can support Wiltshire Council in delivering high quality provision at a reasonable cost and decrease the number of pupils who have to attend Independent Special School places, out of county that are costly. Current spend on the Independent Special School places accounts for 6% of SEND pupils but 23% of cost of provision overall.