Have your say on new special school places in Houghton Regis
Wednesday, 28 February 2024
We have launched a statutory consultation on changes to Chiltern School to ensure that more children and young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) have
A growth in demand for special school provision within Central Bedfordshire has resulted in increased placements within the independent sector and outside of Central Bedfordshire.
From September 2017 to September 2023 Central Bedfordshire experienced an almost 94% increase in EHC plans. This compares to 65% nationally.
We are proposing an expansion onto the former Universal Technical College (UTC) on the Kingsland Campus, which is less than a one-minute walk from the current Chiltern School main site. This will create up to 115 additional places for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and with complex needs.
The expansion and co-location of the 2 current Chiltern Special School sites will enable the school to provide additional support to students, including:
- Rebound therapy can only be offered for 20% of the week in the current site as there is not a dedicated space
- Additional sensory spaces
- Additional dedicated classrooms, group rooms and create a secure outdoor space for pupils with ASD
The proposed expansion would also mean the permanent closure of the former primary school site at Beech Road, Dunstable.
Councillor Hayley Whitaker, Executive Member for Families, Education and Children, said:
We want to make sure every child or young person with SEND has access to a high-quality education near their home and community. So, we’ve listened to parents’ thoughts about the need for more special school places and now we are taking action. We've set aside around £50million to make sure these changes happen across Central Bedfordshire to help children with complex needs get the support they need to learn and grow.
At Chiltern School, the relocation of pupils from the former primary school site through the refurbishment of the nearby UTC building, will allow for all pupils at the school to benefit from enhanced SEND provision, currently not available or not accessed by all pupils due to the school being on a split site. I’d urge as many people as possible to have their say via the consultation questionnaire.