Children and young people with educational needs in Crewe and Nantwich are to receive a £2.5 million funding boost as part of the Government’s Inclusive Mainstream Fund.
The money aims to give children a chance to attend their local school, early years and college and know they belong there.
The Inclusive Mainstream Fund has allocated more than £500 million across the UK this year to invest in adaptive teaching, inclusive whole-school approaches and evidence-based support for children with SEND.
For years Crewe and Nantwich families have faced a postcode lottery that has left children fighting for the right support, travelling miles to access it or waiting months or years to receive it.
New guidance sets out what families can expect including a commitment that every secondary school will have an inclusion base – a dedicated space for targeted teaching and specialist support for those pupils who need it.
They will be run by a qualified teacher and allow access to an adapted, broad, ambitious curriculum to meet the needs of each child.
MP for Crewe & Nantwich Connor Naismith said: “It’s fantastic to see the Government backing up these new guidelines with significant investment.
“Parents rightly want clarity over the future of their child’s education.
“I hope this announcement provides some reassurance that classrooms will be well-equipped to provide inclusive SEND education within mainstream schools.
“£2.5 million will bring real change to children with SEND across Cheshire East and ease the load on parents who previously had to fight to get their children the support they deserve.”
Latest figures suggest eight in 10 parents (80%) who want their child to attend a base report a positive experience, and nationwide they are delivering strong outcomes.
To make sure sites across Crewe and Nantwich meet the needs of all children, the Inclusive Estates guidance suggests tools for understanding the daily experience of a child or young person with SEND.
It will include improvements such as adapting acoustics and light, introducing quiet and calm spaces like sensory gardens, and installing ramps or handrails.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Every child and young person deserves to feel included, without fighting for the support they need to succeed.
“We are giving schools a clear, practical blueprint to become truly inclusive, from calmer classrooms and sensory-friendly spaces, to specialist support embedded right in the heart of the school, so children can learn alongside their peers rather than miles from home.
“Every child deserves to attend a school where they belong, where the environment works for them, and where the right support is simply part of the school day. That’s what we’re building.”
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