'Much needed' SEND school remains unfunded

A local authority still does not have the money to build a "much needed" school for children with autism, councillors have been told.

Plans were unveiled in February 2024 for a specialist site in Byker, Newcastle, which could support almost 200 young people, but the scheme remains unfunded.

Councillors were told last week that two bids for government money to pay for the school had been turned down.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the government had invested £740m to create more places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) within mainstream schools.

The number of children and young people in the North East with an education, health and care (EHC) plan rose from 26,258 to 29,396 last year, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Labour-led Newcastle City Council official Mark Patton told councillors that the need for the Byker school was increasing.

"In principle, we would all agree that if a child is able to thrive in a mainstream school with their peers that is absolutely the right thing for them," he said.

"But we also acknowledge that there are some... who require such specialist interventions and support that a mainstream school would not be able to deliver without detriment to other children.

"There is undoubtedly still space, not just in Newcastle but nationally, for specialist provision and that need is increasing."

The proposed school, which would have 192 places, would be built on the site of a council office block and depot in Allendale Road that is earmarked for demolition.

A council report about the school called it "much needed".

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