Four Hertfordshire colleges receive share of £21m to improve special education services
Plans to invest £21m to support an increase in places for young people with SEND in four further education colleges in Hertfordshire have been given the go-ahead by the county council.
The council’s investment in facilities at Hertford Regional College (£3.25m), North Hertfordshire College (£6.5m), Oaklands College (£9m) and West Herts College (£1.2m) is expected to result in an additional 150 SEND places.
And the £21.045m, which includes contingency allowances, was given the go-ahead by a meeting of the county council’s cabinet on Wednesday.
Presenting the proposal, executive member for education, SEND and inclusion, Cllr Mark Watkin (Liberal Democrat, Nascot Park) said the investment formed a key part of the council’s SEND strategy.
He said it was in response to rising demand, increasing complexity of need and the clear message from families that they want more high-quality post-16 provision that was closer to home.
And he said it would enhance existing provision and strengthen pathways into adulthood, employment and independence for young people with SEND.
But pointing to the costs incurred when SEND students take up independent specialist places instead of attending local FE colleges, he suggested it was “financially responsible” too.
“This investment is not only the right thing to do for young people and their families, it is also financially responsible,” he said. “Independent specialist placements can cost well over £100,000 per learner each year, whereas local college provision is significantly less expensive.
“By increasing local capacity we can improve outcomes, while reducing reliance on costly out-of-county placements.
“And indeed [we can] also incorporate many young people who don’t go to college at all, because there aren’t the facilities available to them that they can reach.
“Most importantly, more young people will be able to study closer to home, maintain family and community connections and develop the skills they need to lead independent and fulfilling lives.”
As part of the investment package, the £3.25m allocated to Hertford Regional College is intended to fund the extension and reconfiguration of its Department of Inclusive Learning, in Ware.
This will create 35 additional spaces for learners with learning difficulties and autism. At North Hertfordshire College, the £6.5m investment will support a two-phase expansion of supported studies provision at its Stevenage campus.
This, according to information given to councillors, will initially include a multi-skills workshop, training kitchen, IT facilities, and breakout spaces.
This will be followed by specialist classrooms and vocational learning facilities, alongside sensory and regulation spaces, social learning areas and support accommodation.
Once complete, the investment is designed to enable the creation of 50 additional specialist post-16 SEND places within the mainstream college environment.
At Oaklands College, the £9m has been granted for the creation of a new Springfield High Needs Centre at its St Albans campus. Springfield already supports young people with the most complex learning difficulties, disabilities and health needs.
The additional investment – which will provide specialist classrooms, care and hygiene facilities, therapy and sensory spaces, life skill environments and accessible outdoor space – is set to increase capacity at the centre from 100 to 140.
Currently, there are reported to be around 35 places at the centre available to Hertfordshire learners. But following investment, this is expected to increase to 80, according to the county council.
And officials say it is a “significant opportunity” to reduce reliance on independent placements outside of the county. In the final part of the package agreed by the cabinet, £1.2m is to be awarded to West Herts College for improvements to inclusive learning environments across the college’s Watford and Hemel Hempstead campuses.
The proposal focuses on adapting and improving existing accommodation – and will include the provision of quieter spaces for regulation, sensory and de-escalation facilities and flexible learning environments to better support learners with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs.
It is understood that the changes are expected to enable a further 20 young people with SEND to access places at the college.
The decision was taken by a meeting of the cabinet on September 16, part of which was discussed behind closed doors.