Funding approval creates an additional 28 SEND school places
22 February 2024
North Northamptonshire Council Executive has approved a capital project at Corby Business Academy.
The scheme is worth up to £543,900, and when completed this Autumn will help address the growing demand for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) school places in the council area.
I am delighted that we have been able to use Higher Needs Funding to give this project the go ahead.Leader of the Council, Jason Smithers
We have a statutory obligation as a council to provide appropriate enhancement of an existing school to meet the demand for SEND school places, an obligation we take seriously.
So, we are extremely fortunate that Corby Business Academy has the physical space that can be used to help us address the shortage of SEND spaces in North Northamptonshire.
The project has come about after Corby Business Academy, (a secondary school), expressed an interest to the council in expanding their current SEND provision.
Parts of the original school were designed to accommodate a SEND provision which included complex needs, including a hydrotherapy pool. However, over the years the school’s intake has been directed at more mobile students.
A refurbishment of the original hydrotherapy area, together with replanning will increase the teaching space footprint enabling an increase in pupil numbers. The project will create two classrooms and accommodate an additional 28 SEND pupil places.
While we are funding this project, I am pleased that the works will be project managed by the school and their design team as both have a proven track record of delivering projects to budget and on time.Cllr Scott Edwards, the Council’s Executive member for Children, Families, Education and Skills
I am excited to see the classrooms in September and delighted that the school will soon be welcoming another 28 SEND pupils.