Today’s announcement by the Labour Government of £3 billion in national funding for SEND and Alternative Provision (AP) is hugely welcome — and fantastic news for families here in Calderdale.
Here in our borough, we’ve been given the option to:
• Progress our plans for a brand-new AP school in North Halifax, or
• Receive £5.75 million in additional capital funding
Either option represents a major investment that will make a real difference for children, young people and families across Calderdale.
This is separate from — and in addition to — the new SEN Free School already being progressed on the former Threeways site.
Alongside this, we’re also:
* Expanding our existing specialist schools
* Establishing new specialist hubs within mainstream settings
* Rolling out a new strategy to ensure all mainstream schools are inclusive
This new funding will help us grow high-quality local SEND places and ensure every child can access the education and support they deserve, close to home.
We remain absolutely committed to creating an inclusive education system where all children and young people can thrive. Today’s announcement is another important step toward that goal.
Pictured is Cabinet Member Cllr Adam Wilkinson at a new collaborative provision between Highbury Specialist School and Field Lane Primary.