New autistic school to be built in Bournemouth

Funding is to be given to BCP Council by the Department for Education’s £105m nationwide investment in SEND services. 

A school for approximately 180 pupils, aged between three and 19 years and on the autism spectrum, will be built in Bournemouth within the next two years. 

Cathi Hadley, BCP’s director of children’s services, said: “This investment will help more children with special educational needs and disabilities receive a world-class education. 

“Confirmation that a new school will be built in our area means we are providing vital specialist spaces for those pupils whose needs cannot be met in mainstream education. 

Cathi Hadley

“But we also know that many children with SEND enjoy and achieve in mainstream education, and many parents want their children to be supported to stay there where they can. 

“We have also been working hard with schools, our parent and carer forums and the DfE to increase specialist provision in mainstream schools where needed, so that those children who can enjoy and achieve in mainstream schools are able to do so. 

“Alongside this work we continue to improve the timeliness of our services, with the backlog of educational health care plans (EHCPs) and educational psychologist (EPs) advice both reducing. 

“We know it has been difficult for families to navigate the SEND system, but today’s fantastic announcement of funding, and our improvement work, shows that we are committed to achieving the best for all the children and young people in BCP who need extra support to fulfil their full potential.” 

It's not clear exactly where the school will be built or how much money BCP Council is to receive at this stage.

News of this investment follows last month’s announcement of a brand-new Dingley’s Promise centre in Bournemouth. 

Tobias Ellwood with education secretary Gillian Keegan (Image: Tobias Ellwood)

Gillian Keegan

BCP Council worked closely with the charity to provide a new nursery assessment centre to support children under five with SEND and their families. 

The new centre aims to give children the best possible start in life by providing specialist support tailored to each child to help with their onward journey. 

As part of the council’s commitment to specialist provision, conversations with the DfE are continuing around a separate application for c£5m capital funding to support the creation of a further specialist SEND provision for BCP’s children and young people. 

It’s understood the school will be built in the east of Bournemouth, after MP Tobias Ellwood wrote to the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt on April 9 calling for it in his constituency.

He said: "After multiple meetings with the Treasury and Department of Education calling for a new school, I am delighted to see Bournemouth has been selected as one of the 15 locations across the country to receive one.

"This is great news for Bournemouth."

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan added: “I know how hard it can be for families trying to navigate the SEND system, and the creation of more brilliant special schools is just one part of our plan to make sure every family and every child get the right support, in the right place at the right time.”