Questions raised over progress on new special needs schools in Bracknell
Council bosses say projects are moving forward despite "bumps in the road"
Questions have been raised about progress on building dedicated schools for special needs children in Bracknell and how they are looked after.
Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are those who require extra support to assist their development.
Bracknell Forest Council is engaged in projects to increase support for these children within dedicated SEND schools, while reacting to changes in government guidance.
Questions were raised about how the council is handling development for these children at a meeting of the council’s overview & scrutiny commission.
Councillor Mike Forster (Liberal Democrats, Sandhurst) acknowledged that the council’s children’s services team is working incredibly hard, and asked whether it was meeting the performance goals set at the start of the financial year in April.
He said: “Are we going to be able to make up the sort of focus that we’ve had on the new legislation to service quality, improving our service and maintaining our service, while recognising the still increasing demand that we’re always seeing in SEND?
“Are we in a position that we can deliver both, quite frankly, the new reform and the increasing demand at the same time?”
Susan Haliwell, the chief executive of the council, said: “I think that reflection of what we’ve had to do is spot on in terms of diverting resources and capacity.
“There are still bumps in the road, but we are very focused and targeted on the areas we do need to pick up.
“Will we get back up to 100 per cent delivery in year? I’m not 100 per cent confident, but I know we have the ambition, and I know that we’ve done whatever we can with the reform plans to make sure that we’re not duplicating, but we do something once, and we do it well once.”
She then said the council is in a better place with data about the children it assists and those with education, health and care (EHC) plans to meet demands in the future.
To address needs in the area, the council has a project to transform the former Warfield Church of England primary school in All Saints Rise into a new social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) school with 50 places.
Work on the project began in October last year and is on track to be completed in Spring 2027.
Meanwhile, there is also a plan for Forest View School in Buckler’s Park, which will have 100 places for autistic pupils from reception age to Year 13.
Updating her colleagues, Helen Purnell (Labour, Easthampstead & Wildridings), the leader of the council said: “This is hot off the press, Peter Swallow MP wrote to Josh McAllister MP, the minister for children and families, regarding Forest View School.
“He’s just shared the response, which is incredibly positive.
“Technical advisors have been appointed for Forest View, they met with department officials in July to commence the feasibility phase.
“So although we’re not hearing about it, things are happening in the background, and I have huge faith that the school will be delivered as soon as it practicably can be.”
The answers were given at a meeting on September 3.