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Future investment and proposals for SEND school to be discussed at cabinet

Proposals for the future of Silverwood School including major investment to help meet the need for Special Educational Needs and/or Disability (SEND) places across its three sites will be discussed by council leaders in May.

Published 24 April 2023

Proposals for the future of Silverwood School including major investment to help meet the need for Special Educational Needs and/or Disability (SEND) places across its three sites will be discussed by council leaders in May.

Silverwood has campuses at Rowde, Chippenham and Trowbridge. The proposals include investment in the three sites to secure their long term future and ensure a maximum of 75 pupils at the Chippenham campus and 75 pupils at the Trowbridge site, in line with Department for Education space standards.

The investment includes removing some of the 'mobile' structures at Trowbridge, opening up and improving the outdoor learning space and upgrading many of the classrooms and facilities at a cost of around £3.6m.

A new model has been put forward by Silverwood School, and parents have been consulted on the proposed changes. It is proposed that Chippenham and Trowbridge will provide primary age provision complemented by the all-through offer (reception to Sixth Form) at Silverwood Rowde. Silverwood School will continue to provide a hybrid Sixth Form offer, supporting mainstream colleges alongside in-house Sixth Form provision for young people with more complex and profound needs at Rowde and Silverwood College (previously known as Poplar).

Cllr Jane Davies, Cabinet Member for SEND said: "We have worked closely with the school and are putting in £3.6m of investment to ensure Chippenham and Trowbridge campuses can provide a high standard of education and the right environment for young people to thrive. Our proposals support the model suggested by the school to have all secondary education at the Rowde campus and have 75 pupils each at the other two sites to prevent overcrowding. We are grateful for all those who took part in our consultation and we will ensure that we work closely with all families should these proposals be agreed so we can plan for the future together."

Cllr Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills said: "These plans will secure the long term future of all three sites and help address the need for SEND places in Wiltshire. Our SEND numbers are increasing year on year and this is a key part of our plan to invest. We know there are some concerns about the changes in age and what this will mean. If the proposals are agreed we'll work with our families and ensure young people are supported and ready for any changes."

Ensuring growth in special school capacity is a long-term priority for Wiltshire Council and aligns with a number of its Business Plan aims including to protect those who are most vulnerable and ensure that children and young people with SEND can have the best education and support, provided in good quality estate and ensuring that special education provision in Wiltshire is equitably provided.

The provision of additional special school places is part of a strategic approach to provide enough places. To meet increasing demand for SEND provision, Wiltshire Council has plans to increase special school places; create more resource bases in both primary and secondary schools; and offer enhanced support for mainstream provision across all age groups.

The SAIL academy is a 150-place free SEND school planned for the south while another 130-pupil free school has been given the green light by the Department for Education recently to meet increasing demand for SEND school places.  

The cabinet will meet on Tuesday 2 May.

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