SEND children to be moved to mainstream schools

An action and improvement plan was drawn up after Ofsted found failings in the county’s SEND services

Children with "limited" special educational needs will be able to move to a mainstream school to help address a lack of specialist places in Worcestershire.

A children and families overview and scrutiny panel met on Monday for an update on Worcestershire’s progress against an action and improvement plan.

It was drawn up after Ofsted found “widespread failings” in the county’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services.

Councillor David Chambers, cabinet member for education, told the panel that plans were in motion to increase provision in existing specialist schools.

David Chambers says some children currently have to travel "halfway across the county" to go to a SEND school

He also confirmed a programme was underway to create more provision in mainstream schools.

Children with “limited” special educational needs currently at specialist schools would, with their parents’ permission, be able to move to a mainstream school local to them.

Mr Chambers said some children currently had to travel “halfway across the county” to go to a SEND school.

But he added "the biggest difficulty" was that there would not be enough government funding to implement the plans.

"There was not sufficient funding in this area from the previous government, and I’m not aware at this stage that there is going to be the appropriate funds necessary from the current government,” he said.

Sarah Wilkins, director for education, early years, inclusion and education place planning at the council, said a new special school had been due to open in Malvern in 2026, but the Department for Education had delayed it by a year.