£1.66 million to boost special needs education in Warwickshire
Funding aims to enhance facilities and reduce travel times for vulnerable students
Warwickshire County Council's Cabinet has approved a £1.66 million investment for the 2026/2027 Education Capital Programme, aiming to improve facilities for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision in the area.
The funding focuses on enhancing safeguarding and accessibility measures as well as reducing travel times for vulnerable students, aligning with the Warwickshire Education Sufficiency Strategy 2024-2029.
The County Council has detailed several key projects that will benefit from the funding. Disability Access Capital Works will receive £400,000 to improve hygiene facilities and ensure equal access for pupils with disabilities.
Another £400,000 has been earmarked for Safeguarding and Security Enhancements, which include upgrades to perimeter fencing to bolster safety for students and staff.
Brooke School in Rugby will receive £525,000 for remodelling, creating 34 additional specialist places for students with Learning and Cognition difficulties.
Bilton School, Rugby, has been allocated £234,000 to redesign washroom facilities for improved supervision and accessibility.
Ashlawn School, Rugby, is set to receive £77,000 for creating a new specialist provision for pupils with Communication and Interaction needs, pending Department for Education approval.
And £26,000 will be used at Burton Green CofE Academy, Kenilworth, to reconfigure facilities for a new preschool.
Cllr Wayne Briggs, Warwickshire County Council Portfolio Holder for Education said: “We are seeing an increasing and evolving need for specialist education provision across the county and this investment is a clear demonstration of our commitment to ensuring every child in Warwickshire has access to safe, supportive, and high-quality education.
“Through investment in dedicated resourced provisions within our mainstream schools and expanding our specialist settings, we are ensuring that children with special educational needs can learn closer to home and that our schools are fit for the future.”
Cllr Stephen Shaw, Warwickshire County Council Portfolio Holder for Finance and Property, added: "This programme is a prime example of how we are managing the Council's property and financial resources to deliver maximum impact for our communities. By successfully securing and directing developer contributions alongside targeted government grants, we are able to fund essential upgrades and expansions without placing an additional burden on local taxpayers.
"From a financial perspective, investing in our own school estates to create local specialist provision makes clear economic sense. By reducing our reliance on independent specialist placements and costly home-to-school transport, we can ensure that our high needs funding is deployed as effectively and efficiently as possible."