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03
Apr
A “dire situation” and “under pressure” - those are just two phrases used to describe North Yorkshire’s special educational needs services.
Over the last year, North Yorkshire Council has received more than 1,200 applications for support from parents with SEND children.
The figure is a significant increase on last year and has left council staff under pressure and parents frustrated.
Meanwhile, to compound matters further, the authority has a lack of places in special educational needs schools.
The Stray Ferret has covered the matter extensively with interviews with families with SEND children and the political fallout from the increased demand.
In this article, we look at how the council is coping with the matter and what it means for parents in the Harrogate district.
Emily Mitchell with her daughter Elsie.
Ms Mitchell, who had her own struggles with getting Elsie into an appropriate school in Harrogate last year, said more needed to be done on a local and national level to tackle growing demand for EHC plans.
She said:
Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP.
Mr Jones said:
Aside from hiring staff to tackle its backlog, North Yorkshire Council has sought to increase places in specialist schools for pupils.
The authority agreed proposals to create a facility at the former Woodfield Community Primary School in Bilton in August 2023, which is expected to cost £3.5 million to establish.
Recently, it advertised for an academy sponsor for the site with a target open date of April 2025.
Meanwhile, it is also planning to provide additional special school places at Springwater School in Starbeck from September 2025.
The move would help to create additional capacity for 45 pupils at the school.
The project is expected to be funded through £3.1 million from its High Needs Provision Capital Allocation provided by government.
For the council, it hopes its measures will help to tackle demand for SEND pupils. However, parents appear yet to be convinced.
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