Further SEND places to be created in Rotherham

Rotherham Council say extra SEND places, including at Newman School (pictured), will reduce the need to send children out of the borough for education

A £2.5m grant will be used to create 35 new places at a school for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Rotherham.

Newman School in Whiston is projected to expand from its current 160 pupils to 195 to help meet demand, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The school wants to expand its current facilities and is expected to submit a planning application to construct a secondary block on the main site and refurbish a Grade II-listed building.

It is expected that the application will be submitted towards the end of 2025, with hopes work will begin around September 2026.

The grant has come from the Department for Education's "safety valve" scheme, which aims to help councils ensure there are sufficient school places and resources for children with SEND.

During a meeting of Rotherham Council's cabinet, councillor Victoria Cusworth, cabinet member for children and young people, said: "There is always more to do, our parents and carers tell us that, and this is part of that continued improvement."

Councillor Chris Read, council leader, said: "Ensuring that children are educated in the right kind of environment, a high-quality environment, is just absolutely essential to get them off on the right start in life."

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