Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
SEND expansion approved
The Childrens Services, Education and Skills Committee met on Thursday 26 June 2025.
It approved the noted SEND Expansions to proceed.
The minutes will be published at the next committee meeting.
What is Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Consultation?
The Isle of Wight Council is seeking to expand its Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provisions across the Island.
The proposed additional specialist SEND provision will help manage an increase in the number of children with SEND, including those requiring an education health and care plan (EHCP) for their needs to be met, and ensure we are able to meet the needs of children requiring specialist provision.
The proposed programme seeks to provide specialist education placement for additional children from September 2025 and beyond.
The Isle of Wight Corporate Plan states that the Council will work with local communities to maintain and ensure appropriate specialist SEND provision.
This is part of the Isle of Wight Education Strategy
- Read the documents considered by Cabinet on Thursday 24 April 2025 at 5pm
- Health and wellbeing support
Why do we need to take action and where are we looking to expand specialist SEND provision?
- We have an opportunity to implement change across the Island’s education system.
The approval will now expand specialist SEND provision at the following places
- expansion of places at Medina House School from 138 places to 168, with 30 places being provided at a satellite specialist SEND provision located at the site of the former Chillerton & Rookley Primary School, Chillerton IOW
- expansion of the resourced specialist SEND provision at Hunnyhill Primary School from 8 places to 12 places for children for Social Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)
- expansion of the resourced specialist SEND provision at Brading CE Primary School from 8 places to 12 places for children with Autism Spectrum (AS) and/or Complex Learning
- expansion of the resourced specialist SEND provision at The Bay CE School (Secondary site) from 15 places to 20 places for children with Autism Spectrum (AS)
- expansion of Lionheart School from 60 places to 120 places, with 60 places for children with complex high anxiety mental health (Non-EHCP/Section 19 children) being provided at the Cowes Primary School site, Cowes (subject to closure on the 31/8/2025)
- expansion of St Georges School from 208 places to 228 places, with 40 places being provided at the satellite site located in East Cowes
- creation of a new 12 place primary resourced specialist SEND provision at Brighstone CE Primary School for children with Autism Spectrum (AS) and/or Speech Language Communication Need (SLCN)