NEW CLASSROOMS FOR THREE CITY SCHOOLS

Three schools in Plymouth are set to receive new classrooms, including two special schools to help expand the number of places available for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Plymouth City Council has seen increasing demand for special school places in recent years and been exploring ways to grow capacity at local schools.

Cann Bridge School will receive two classroom units to accommodate 16 extra pupils, while Mill Ford School will receive three units so they can continue to support children who have been learning at a satellite location in Ernesettle. This has been funded by a dedicated grant for capital development of high needs places from the Department for Education.

Additionally, two existing modular classrooms at College Road Primary School that are in poor condition will be replaced thanks to funding from the Schools Condition Grant from the Department for Education. The new classrooms will be modular units located within the schools’ existing grounds, subject to receiving planning permission.

Councillor Charlotte Carlyle, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Children and Young People said: “We are committed to ensuring that children in Plymouth are able to thrive in a learning environment that suits them and their needs.

“We are seeing increasing pressures on our SEND services, which is in line with national trends, and has resulted in a demand for special school places exceeding the number of places available.

“I’m really pleased that we’re now able to take the first step towards increasing capacity by providing additional space at two of our special schools so that they can support even more children with additional needs.

“We know this isn’t the complete answer to the problem but it’s a step in the right direction that will help local families, while we work on longer term solutions.”

The council is now looking to appoint a framework provider for the procurement of the modular units and deliver the scheme, following an executive decision signed this week. This is subject to call-in.