Calderdale Reform cabinet won't U-turn on new Calderdale SEND schools

The previous Labour administration had earmarked around £20m for a 200-place special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) school for primary and secondary age pupils to be built at the former Threeways site in Ovenden.

And earlier this year they also said Government funding was in the pipeline for a new alternative provision school for children with complex needs, also to be built in north Halifax, on which they were awaiting details.

In public question time at Cabinet’s July meeting, Labour group leader and former cabinet member for Children and Young People’s Services, Coun Adam Wilkinson, sought assurances on the projects.

Given financial pressures outlined in the final out-turn report on the council’s budget for 2025-26 in SEND and related home-to-school transport costs, the new schools would ease costs, he said.

Coun Wilkinson (Lab, Sowerby Bridge) said: “Can cabinet confirm confirm whether it remains fully committed to delivering the SEND and Alternative Provision free schools committed to by the previous Labour administration?

“These would not only ensure more local children and families get the specialist education they deserve closer to home, but would also directly ease the budget pressures highlighted in the report by reducing reliance on costly out-of-area placements and transport.

“Will cabinet commit to maintaining momentum on these schemes and provide a clear timeline for delivery?” he asked.

Responding, Coun Tim Holden, cabinet member for Children and Young People’s Services, said they would.

Coun Holden (Reform UK, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe) said he had spent a lot of time understanding SEND, the outcome from the recent local SEND Ofsted report and Calderdale’s local SEND reform plan, which had been submitted in June.

“Along with our work to support more children to stay in mainstream schools, as close as possible to where they live, cabinet supports the continuation of work with the Department for Education (DfE) on these two school schemes to ensure we have sufficient high quality places for alternative provision and meet additional SEND needs with new school places,” he said.

Coun Holden said council officers were in discussion with the DfE regarding next steps for each of the schemes, which have to be undertaken in conjunction with the DfE.

“As our administration moves forward we will continue our positive work with the DfE and local communities to pursue all opportunities to further reduce budget pressures within the scope of the new SEND reforms,” he said.