Planned expansion of additional learning needs provision in Cardiff one step closer 

Plans to expand and adapt additional learning needs provision in Cardiff are now one step closer after no concerns were raised during both the public consultation and statutory notices period. 

In order to meet the expected rise in demand, a range of schemes have been put forward in addition to separate proposals to develop additional learning needs provision which are part of the council's Band B, 21^stCentury Schools and Education Programme. 

Cardiff Council's Cabinet will now consider a report on the statutory notices period when it meets next Thursday, June 5. 

Following a public consultation held earlier in the year, the statutory notices were published for the following seven schemes, a mix of special schools and specialist resource bases in mainstream schools: 

Ty Gwyn Special School

• Increase the number of places to 198
• Adapt the former Trelai Youth Centre building to provide three extra classrooms as well as a community facility 

Greenhill School

• Increase the leaving age for pupils from 16 to 19, becoming a school for 11 to 19 year olds
• Increase the school's capacity to provide 64 places 

Meadowbank Special School

• Adapt the designation of the school to: ‘speech language and communication needsandcomplex learning disabilities' - the school's current designation is for ‘specific language impairments'. 

Allensbank Primary School

• Open an eight place early intervention class in September 2019, for children with speech and language needs, and phase out the special resource base at the school by July 2020 at the latest 

St Mary the Virgin Church in Wales School

• Create a twenty place special resource base 

Ysgol Pwll Coch

• Open a special resource base, initially providing up to 10 places, but with the option of increasing this to 20 places in future 

Ysgol Glantaf

• Increase the number of places in its special resource base to 30
• Extend and improve the base's current accommodation 

Commenting on the proposals, Deputy Leader of Cardiff Council and Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, Cllr Sarah Merry, said: "There has been a significant growth in the number of young people with additional learning needs in Cardiff since 2012, as the city's population has increased. This trend is expected to continue for the next five to 10 years, which it why it is so important for us to introduce these schemes, followed by implementation of the additional provision under Band B of the 21^stCentury Schools programme. 

"It's our aim to encourage as many children and young people with additional learning needs as possible to go to their local school, and over 90 percent are using mainstream education. For those with more complex needs, we have funded an additional 103 special school and specialist resource base places in Cardiff during the last five years. 

"Through these proposed schemes, and the next phase of our 21st Century Schools programme, we will significantly expand this provision further." 

A copy of the Cabinet report is available to view online at www.cardiff.gov.uk/meetings 

You can read more about the separate additional learning needs proposals under Band B here: Band B proposals to develop additional learning needs provision 

For information on the complete Band B 21^stCentury Schools proposals click here: 21stCentury Schools Band B Programme