Eastwood councillor says county council committed to investing in SEND schooling
An Eastwood county councillor says the Reform-led authority will continue to invest in SEN and SEND children in Nottinghamshire.
Coun James Walker-Gurley (Ref), cabinet member for economic development and assets, was speaking on the council’s latest investments to improve facilities for specialist schools during a visit with the council leader to a new state-of-the-art school in Mansfield which is now supporting children with special educational needs (SEN).
The recently-opened £30m Horizons Academy has capacity for up to 160 pupils across the seven to 19 years age range.
It forms part of the council’s commitment to create up to 490 additional SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) school places this year to help address the growing demand for more specialist school places across the county.
Coun Walker-Gurley said: “Horizons Academy is an incredible example of a state-of-the-art SEND school and I’m delighted that we have plans for even more investment in this area.
“Samuel Barlow Primary Academy, which is just few miles away in Clipstone, will see more classrooms built to create more SEND places .
“We are also investing in Fountaindale, another specialist school in Mansfield, which will be expanded to create more teaching space.
“It’s vital that all children in the county have the chance to learn in the best environment possible and we are doing all that we can to make that happen.”
Coun Mick Barton (Ref), council leader, said he was delighted that Horizons is now open and benefitting young people.
He said: “Horizons Academy is such an impressive, top of the range facility which will benefit many generations to come.
“We are committed to improving facilities and creating more places for children with special educational needs, which is why we have more investment on its way in this area.”
The council’s property services have commissioned and facilitated the project, which is being designed and cost-managed by Arc Partnership – a joint venture between the authority and SCAPE – with construction undertaken by Morgan Sindall Construction.
Dan Maher, managing director at Arc Partnership, said: “Designing a calming learning environment for students with specialist needs was central to our approach and it is fantastic to now see the students benefitting.”