Stafford schools put forward plan to admit more special needs children
Two special schools have put forward plans to help educate more children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Marshlands Special School and the adjacent Greenhall Nursery, in Stafford, have proposed a series of changes to allow them to offer more spaces to students.
It has led to both schools working together – due to Marshlands being oversubscribed and Greenhall being under-subscribed – in a bid to admit more SEND children.
The move would see Greenhall Nursery, based on Second Avenue, cater for children up to five years old with a broader range of conditions, chiefs have said.
And Marshlands Special School will shift its focus on children aged between five and 11 – allowing the school to admit more children in these age groups.
Staffordshire County Councillor Jonathan Price, cabinet member for education including SEND, said: “We have been working with the governing bodies of both Marshlands School and Greenhall Nursery on these proposals, which will see more children with SEND get access to the specialist education they need.
“Both Marshlands and Greenhall have been offering an excellent standard of education to children.”
Both schools have worked together on the plans and have consulted with parents, carers, parent support groups and others.
The proposals will be discussed at a meeting of the county council’s cabinet on September 16.
