On Monday Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson made a statement called ‘Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life’ which has been interpreted as a threat to the current means of accessing support for children with special needs through EHCP certificates and a shift to what she called ‘Best Start family hubs.’
Dr Andrew Murrison, MP for South West Wiltshire and a former special school governor asked the minister to reassure him that the SEND school announced in April 2024 by the previous government and due to open next year at Bitham Park Westbury would still go ahead. The minister said she did not have ‘the precise details of the constituency school he raises’ but would ‘be happy to arrange a meeting for him with the relevant minister.’
Andrew said;
“Wiltshire is part of the f40 group of lowest school funded local authorities so we were delighted to get central government funds for this much needed new school for 130 children which will reduce the need for out of county placements. I do so hope the minister will come back to me with the reassurance I seek and look forward to discussing it.”