Wokingham Borough Conservatives are delighted that the Department of Education has awarded (01.03.23) funding for new Special Educational Needs (SEND) schools, following lobbying by Conservative councillors over a number of years.
Previously funding formulas disadvantaged Wokingham. The pressure on funds rose from £4m to £6m and could be seen in 2021 to head towards £12m.
Under the previous Conservative administration discussions were held with the Department of Education facilitated by local Conservative MPs, particularly Theresa May.
The need for these two new SEND schools has been driven by an increasing demand particularly over recent years, and is part of a greater national trend.
The Conservative Government put together a scheme for funding which was a competitive bid process across the country, which Wokingham submitted last year.
The success of the award is a testament to the work of the officers within Wokingham’s Children’s Services department.
The Liberal Democrat/Labour Coalition have been disingenuous in their claims that work was not underway in tackling this problem.
The trends and financial consequences were forecastable with rapidly increasing growth before the pandemic.
Under the previous Conservative administration, the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) was discussed at length with head teachers in the Schools Forum Committee, and became an urgent and important subject in the Borough Educational Partnership which was formed by the Conservative administration in 2021.
This funding from a Conservative Government will resolve the DSG problem not just in Wokingham, but nationwide.
Wokingham Conservative Councillors have long campaigned for extra provision for SEND. They have now called on the Liberal Democrat/Labour administration to find suitable and sustainable sites for the two schools, without building on green fields.
One of the proposed sites is Rooks Nest in Finchampstead, which the Liberal Democrats had promised to protect from development as recently as the local elections last May.
Cllr Graham Howe, Shadow Executive Member for Children’s Services said “I am delighted my Liberal Democrat successor has been able to continue the Conservative’s plan, and of course we fully support and congratulate the Officer team on achieving this bid for funding to address our SEND problem.
“The two new schools will enable Wokingham to keep our SEND children within the Borough this is economically better, but more importantly gives Wokingham the control of care for our children.
Cllr Howe continued, “I am however very surprised that one of the sites proposed by the Lib Dem administration is at Rooks Nest when there are other more sustainable sites, which do not include building on open countryside. Liberal Democrats had previously told voters the only way to stop building on Rooks Nest was to vote for them – it seems the opposite was true. I believe it is important that we meet the needs of students balanced with residents’ concerns regarding development.
“This is good news for the children and parents who, in the future, will not need to travel out of the Borough for school.”
