New SEND pupils are completing their first half term in Swindon schools

Over 60 students with special educational needs (SEND) completed their first half term in the newly established school settings.

Swindon Borough Council revealed in March that it had secured £22.43m to extend SEND provision.

Most of the money was used to build a new specialist school with approximately 100 places.

However, thanks to the additional funding, 66 places have already been created in three existing schools.

Additional SEND places have been created in the SEN unit at Millbrook Primary School and at Churchward School, which is a specialist secondary school for people with autism and related communication difficulties.

Further places have also been created at Crowdys Hill School, a special needs school for pupils aged four to 19.

The council said the increase in school places is expected to take place in January and September 2025, with the new school expected to be ready by 2028.

The number of pupils in state-funded schools in Swindon covered by the Education, Health and Care Plan (ECHP) has increased from 1,436 in 2019/20 to 1,829 in 2023/2024.

Over the same period, the number of students requiring SEND but not ECHP increased slightly from 4,727 to 4,859, according to the Institute’s data. Department of Education.

However, the council said it expected demand for SEND support to increase in the future.

Councilor Adorabelle Amaral-Shaikh, the council’s cabinet member for education, said: “It is vital that our children and young people are provided with the specialist support they need, and although Swindon is fortunate to have several special schools, as councils are asking for additional places where it will help even more young people.”

She added: “We know we will need additional places in the coming years, so we are continuing to develop plans for a new special needs school.”

Karen Shawyer, headteacher of Millbrook School, said the funding had enabled the school to add an additional nine places and expand the SEND unit.

“It has provided much-needed facilities including a sensory room, well-designed teaching space, new toilets and a large covered outdoor area, which have really improved the learning process and allowed us to meet growing needs,” she said.