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27 Jan 99

Winchelsea Special School

26 January 1999

WINCHELSEA SPECIAL SCHOOL

Members of Poole's Education Committee have been asked to approve a study into options to develop educational provision for older pupils at Winchelsea Special School, which caters for children with moderate learning difficulties. Governors and Staff have been working closely with the Borough of Poole to develop various options, following the school's recent OFSTED inspection, which highlighted the need for improved specialist facilities.

Chairman of the Education Committee, Councillor Annette Brooke, said: "The school's governors and staff are committed to serving the needs of their pupils and want full consultation on the investigation into future educational provision. We want to achieve the best we can for these very special young people - they deserve it".

Members of the Education Committee thanked staff and governors of the school for their hard work and pledged their commitment to the continued involvement of all stakeholders in the development of provision for specialist education.

Shirley Goodwin, Policy Director, said: "This study is part of the Borough's wider review of provision for children with special educational needs. The emphasis is now on providing specialist education locally, rather than children travelling long distances, sometimes on a daily basis, in order to get the support they need".

She added: "If, at the same time, we are able to save money on costly, out of Borough school placements, it will mean money coming back into Poole schools which will benefit local schools, children and their parents".

Vic Sandel, Head of Education Policy and Planning, tel 01202 633073