The Portfolio Holder Decisions/Leader Decisions meeting of Warwickshire Council was scheduled to discuss the potential establishment of a new special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) resourced provision. This provision would cater for primary-aged pupils with communication and interaction needs.

Consultation on a SEND Resourced Provision at Wembrook Primary School

The meeting was scheduled to consider a proposal to begin a statutory process, including public consultation, for the establishment of a Resourced Provision at Wembrook Primary School in Nuneaton. This provision would be designed to support up to eight primary-aged pupils with an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) whose primary needs are related to communication and interaction.

The report pack indicated that the local authority has a responsibility under section 14 of the Education Act 1996 to ensure sufficient schools and specialist provision are available. The establishment of Resourced Provisions, which are described as purpose-built areas within existing schools which allow children with additional needs to attend mainstream settings, whilst accessing specialist provision for their needs, is part of the council's strategy to provide more opportunities for children to access quality education within their communities. This approach aims to support pupils appropriately, reduce waiting times for placements, and minimise travel times.

The proposed consultation period was scheduled to run from 22 June to 19 July 2026, with information to be shared with parents via the school's communication channels and published on the council's Ask Warwickshire consultation platform. The report pack noted that any decision to proceed following the consultation would require a subsequent Cabinet paper if capital works were needed. It was anticipated that the Resourced Provision at Wembrook Primary School could open in the autumn term of 2026.

The report also highlighted potential financial and environmental implications. While the consultation itself would be funded from existing revenue budgets, the establishment of the provision could incur capital costs for remodelling and refurbishing existing space. The council aims to fund these works through existing education capital funding. Furthermore, the report suggested that enabling children to access education closer to home could help manage the cost of home-to-school transport. Environmentally, while the consultation itself had no direct implications, any capital works would be subject to environmental considerations, with an expectation that contractors would address sustainability. The development of local provision was also seen as having a potential positive environmental impact through reduced transport emissions.

The report was authored by Emma Basden-Smith, Strategy and Commissioning Manager, and was presented to Councillor Wayne Briggs, Portfolio Holder for Education. The report indicated that an Equality Impact Assessment would be part of a future report to Cabinet in September 2026, alongside feedback from the consultation.