SELWORTHY Special School in Taunton is looking to expand into Wellington.

A consultation is underway into plans for an additional site at the Wellington Young People's Centre in Mantle Street.

It would create a further 15 secondary school places for children in the Wellington area with learning difficulties and/or communication needs from September this year.

The proposals by Oak Partnership Trust, which runs Selworthy School, is supported by Somerset County Council.

People can have their say on the plans under the consultation, which runs until Friday, April 29, ahead of a final decision on May 16.

A statement accompanying details of the proposal says: "There has been a significant increase in the number of children with Education Health and Care Plans since 2020 with many parents expressing a preference for specialist provision.

"Despite the county council’s significant capital investment in specialist places since 2018, demand continues to exceed availability.

"The county council therefore supports this proposal. It has a statutory duty under the Education Act 1996 to ensure there are sufficient school places available in its area and a strategy to enable pupils to attend schools that meet their needs that are located close to their homes."

County Hall has earmarked funds to undertake improvements at the Wellington Young People’s Centre to provide the additional school places and the work will be completed ahead of the first intake of pupils.

Places at the satellite provision will be allocated on the basis of assessed educational needs and after full consultation with parents and carers.

Pupils at the Wellington school may attend Selworthy Special School in Taunton on occasions and also be able to access "some mainstream provision where appropriate" at Court Fields School, in Wellington.

The statement adds: "Pupils who attend the satellite provision will have all of the resources and facilities that are required to deliver an appropriate provision available to them on site.

"As part of Selworthy Special School we will seek to make the best use of all the resources available to us across the multiple sites."

To respond to the consultation, visit somerset.inconsult.uk or e-mail CEO@oak.education or write to Mr I. Robinson, The Oak Partnership Trust, Central Operations Office, Selworthy Special Schoo, Hazelbrook Campus, Lyngford Road, Taunton, by April 29.

Selworthy Special School is based at two locations in Taunton - one in Selworthy Road, the other the Hazlebrook campus on the site of the former St Augustine of Canterbury School

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