Former Herefordshire grammar school could be turned into SEND facility
Local communities are being asked to give their opinion online
Residents and groups are being asked if a disused local landmark building should be turned into a special school, as the county is seriously short of such places.
Herefordshire Council is gathering views online on whether it should adapt the former Children’s Centre at the Ryefield Centre in Grammar School Close east of Ross-on-Wye town centre, to accommodate 40 pupils aged four to 11, at a likely cost of £1.2 million.
It says there is “a pressing need” to increase specialist education provision in the county for children with complex special educational needs, who as a result may face long journeys elsewhere, at significant cost to the council.
The school would support pupils with “significant, complex and pervasive” needs, including learning difficulties, communication and interaction needs, autism spectrum conditions, speech, language and communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health needs, who have EHCPs (education, health and care plans).
Many would be expected to travel to attend by multi-occupancy taxis or minibuses put on by the council, its consultation says.
It would not accommodate children with profound and multiple learning difficulties, or who have significant physical difficulties and are unable to walk.
The council already owns the Edwardian-era former grammar school, which ceased use as a children’s centre following an “inadequate” Ofsted rating, and also as a community hub and day care centre for adults with learning difficulties, in 2018.
It says it wants respondents to set out “any potential positive or negative impact on children and families, existing schools, neighbouring authorities and local residents” from its proposal.
Responses are to be submitted by October 2. Only if the response is sufficiently positive will the council then move to appoint a provider to redesign and run the school under an anticipated 125-year lease.
Herefordshire Council has meanwhile been granted over £9 million from the Government to increase SEND provision in the county, including expanding Westfield special school in Leominster, creating support bases in mainstream schools, and building or adapting new facilities.