An overhaul of specialist teaching facilities is closer in Swansea after the council’s cabinet approved the latest step in the process. The council wants the facilities to be more evenly distributed throughout the county, have a smoother transition for learners from primary to secondary education, and increase places.
Under the plans, which have gone out for consultation, five new specialist teaching facilities would open, five would close, four would expand, 25 would be redesignated and three would have their specialism changed.
Most pupils with additional learning needs attend mainstream schools. About 600 others with more severe and complex needs in Swansea are educated at 38 specialist teaching facilities at 31 primary and secondary schools. An extra 61 places would be created under the new plans. Speaking at the cabinet meeting on Thursday, December 12, Cllr Robert Smith, who has the education brief, said: “No current learners in the system will be affected by these changes.”
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Cllr Smith thanked everyone who had taken part in the consultation and said their feedback was being taken into account. Cabinet agreed to publish a formal statutory notice on its plans and consider any objections which are submitted prior to making a final decision in March next year, with the changes then coming into effect in a phased manner.
The five specialist teaching facilities which would close would be at Olchfa comprehensive and Grange primary, from September 2025, at Crwys primary from September 2028, and Birchgrove comprehensive from September 2029. An observation unit at Morriston primary would also close next September. However, new types of provision would be available at Olchfa and Grange, and Birchgrove comprehensive would retain 22 places for pupils with social communication and learning difficulties.
The cabinet report said 62 pupils out of 100 who responded to the consultation backed the proposals, while 15 were unhappy with them and 23 didn’t know. There were a further 173 responses from parents, teaching staff and other people, of which 108 supported the proposals and 65 objected. Those not in favour were worried about funding and staff expertise, and feared demand for places would still exceed supply. The planned increase in places is estimated to cost £1m, which would come from the overall delegated schools budget.
Cllr Smith said the new specialist teaching facilities offer would reduce journey times for pupils and make them more accessible. Another change is that a diagnosis to access provision won’t be needed – a departure from the current policy.
Council leader Rob Stewart said: “New learners will hopefully see facilities which meet their needs in places which they can access more easily.” The diagnosis policy change, he said, was “absolutely right”.
Cllr Alyson Anthony said members of staff had been verbally abused, including “a really nasty incident” in a car park, although it wasn’t clear what she was referring to. She felt the planned specialist teaching facilities changes were excellent overall. Cllr Smith said the proposals were in a no way driven by the current operation of them. “It’s not a reflection on existing provision,” he said.