Sheffield special schools expand - but there is still demand for places

Sheffield Council says there are not enough places at Bents Green School, Ringinglow Road, for the new intake of Year 7 students - and 42 pupils will not be able to attend due to lack of space.

Four additional classrooms with quiet areas will be created and the existing forest school will be enhanced to support and broaden the curriculum.

There will be additional parking for 20 new members of staff.

The final design details are still to be confirmed, but options are to extend existing accommodation, build a separate block or a combination of both. There is a budget of £850,000.

Meanwhile, Talbot Specialist School, Lees Hall Road, Norton Lees, is also expanding.

The council wants to provide up to 50 post-16 learning places in buildings next to the school

Learn Sheffield, which is currently in the buildings, will relocate.

Earlier this year, the council said funding to help pupils with special needs had not kept pace with demand.

Sheffield is getting extra High Needs funding for 2020-21, but the allocation has been capped.

It means Sheffield will not receive the full £72 million that it would be allocated and has been left with a shortfall of £5.3m.

Mark Sheikh, head of business strategy at the council, said in a report: “The funding provided by the Education and Skills Funding Agency to support these activities over the years has not kept pace with the increase in demand.”

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