New SEND places in Leeds under consultation

Consultation is underway in Leeds on plans for a new special free school for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

There has been an increase in demand for specialist provision as a result of the number of children and young people with SEND living in Leeds having increased dramatically in recent years. To make sure there are enough specialist places in future years to meet this need, Leeds City Council is proposing to create a new 150-place special free school from September 2021 using existing school buildings at Rose Court on Buckingham Road in Headingley. The proposal is dependent upon Leeds City Council acquiring the site, Rose Court, from its current owner, The Grammar School at Leeds.

As part of this proposal there would also be 50 partnership places created in local mainstream schools. A partnership between a Specialist Inclusive Learning Centre and a mainstream school has children on the roll of the SILC accessing specialist provision within a mainstream setting.

Jonathan Pryor, executive member for learning, skills and employment, said: “We know the number of children and young people with SEND living in Leeds has gone up over the past decade leading to an increased demand on school places for these children. The proposed introduction of a new special free school will help meet this increased need. It is really important that people tell us what they think and so I would encourage as many people as possible to take part in the consultation by attending the drop-in sessions and filling out the online survey.”

The consultation closes on 16 December.