Issue - meetings

To receive an update on the work being undertaken by the Special School Transformation Team in Melksham and the wider area from Matthew Look, SEND Place Planning Commissioning Programme Lead.

Matthew Look, SEND Place, Planning and Commissioning Programme Lead, provided an overview of the requirement for special needs school provision in Wiltshire, before going to provide detailed information about work to transform Melksham House into a special school for children with social, emotional and mental health needs (SEMH). The Area Board were informed that, although Wiltshire had a number of special schools, it was reliant on the independent sector for SEMH provision, meaning that children sometimes had to be placed outside of the county. He explained that Melksham House would provide 42 places for primary age children, and between 25 and 35 secondary age children, when it opened in September 2024.

The Area Board thanked the Programme Lead for providing valuable insight into the progress at the school. During the discussion, points included:

·       Primary age children would be based on the ground floor at Melksham House, with secondary age pupils on the first floor. There would be no classrooms on the second floor as the building was listed, so it was not possible to make the necessary alterations to the staircase.

·       It was envisioned that primary age children would be at Melksham House full time, although there might be a slightly more flexible model for secondary age pupils.

·       In response to a query about whether the school’s hall could be used by the wider community outside of school hours, the Programme Lead said that he would make further enquiries. The Chairman noted that he would welcome the opportunity to hold an Area Board in the building.

·       When asked about how places would be allocated, the Programme Lead noted that children with an Education, Health and Care Plan would have their needs assessed by an expert panel and that parental preference would also be taken into consideration.

·       The Area Board stated that they thought it was fantastic that the future of an important historical building could be secured through the provision of a vital public service.