A new specialist school has been given the go-ahead by the council.
On Tuesday, March 3, Wiltshire Council confirmed it would proceed with plans for the 130-place specialist Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) school at Bitham Park in Westbury. The school will be delivered in partnership with local education provider Brunel.
The announcement comes after Wiltshire Council said it is increasing local specialist education places for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Last year, the Department for Education (DfE) announced that councils with special or alternative provision (AP) free schools in the pipeline could choose either to continue with the originally planned free school or receive capital funding to create the equivalent number of places through local provision.
The council added it will not proceed with Alternative Provision free schools in the north and south and instead will invest the funding directly into expanding specialist places across Wiltshire.
This will help deliver high‑quality, local support more quickly and benefit more children and young people across the county.
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Cllr Jon Hubbard, cabinet member for Children’s Services, SEND, Education and Skills said: “We are excited to be moving ahead with a new special school in Westbury and expanding specialist places right across Wiltshire. This balanced and forward-looking approach will give children and young people with SEND even greater access to the support they need to thrive in their education, closer to the communities they call home.
“Our commitment to creating high quality, local SEND places has never been stronger. Together these decisions reflect our long-term ambition to give every child the best possible start in life. We are incredibly grateful to our partners, families and education providers for working alongside us to shape a brighter future for SEND education in Wiltshire.”
Wiltshire Council will now work with Brunel Academies Trust, which will provide education at the new SEMH school at Bitham Park.
Jackie Fieldwick, chief executive of Brunel Academies Trust said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Wiltshire to deliver the Bitham Park SEMH Free School.
"Brunel are committed to working in collaboration with Wiltshire to increase much needed local SEND places.
"Local provision for local children and families is vital in an effective and inclusive school system.
"We want our children to belong to their school and wider community and know that Wiltshire also share this vision.
"Brunel is proud to part of a progressive local authority putting children first.”
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