At least nine extra additional support needs (ASN) classes will be made available to children with learning disabilities in West Dunbartonshire over the next five years.
The local authority’s education committee has agreed that it is now necessary to expand secondary provision for children with complex needs, which means they will be looked after in their own community.
It comes after the committee approved its learning estate strategy from 2020 to 2030 with £300,000 allocated for future ASN expansion at various locations including Kilpatrick School, which is phase one of the development.
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Phase two will see the establishment of a new base using the old Riverside early learning and childcare (ELCC) building in Renton and phase three will see the expansion of the Choices building in Jamestown. The Choices programme offers specialist support for pupils who have difficulties in mainstream schools.
An update was brought before the education committee last week.
Chairwoman SNP councillor Karen Conaghan said: “One of the key benefits of this is not sending our children outside West Dunbartonshire for provision elsewhere.
“They are better to be within their own communities and for us to make best use of buildings and learning establishments that we do have.
“It is good we are thinking about meeting their needs in a meaningful way. It is a really good report and I am really excited about this ambitious project.”
Immediate expansion of ASN classes would provide additional space for three classes, which would meet needs in 2022 to 2024.
But it is unlikely that the accommodation would be in place by August 2022 and therefore temporary accommodation, anticipated to cost a further £900,000, will be required whilst the building work is completed.
The project will allow young people to go to school in their own local authority area.
Labour councillor Martin Rooney said: “The idea of us bringing young people back to our communities so they can be looked after locally is absolutely fantastic.
“It saves a bit of money but that money can then be used to provide local employment and the report points out there will be 29 additional posts associated with that so I think that is also fantastic.
“I do think this is a fantastic report and that everything you are doing to try and prioritise these children is absolutely on point. It is important that we invest in them to give them the best educational experiences we possibly can.”
