School Place Planning

Special Educational Needs and Disability Provision in Solihull.

What school places are available in Solihull?

Children and young people with Special Educational Needs are educated in a range of provision map.

How are we planning for the future?

The SEND School Place Planning Commissioning Strategy was approved on 20 September 2021 and seeks to set a baseline for specialist provision across Solihull and consider a range of factors that are driving the need for change. 

You can read our:

The strategy provides information regarding the current and future SEND pupil population and draws conclusions regarding the need to add or make changes to specialist provision.  The aim of the Strategy is to help Solihull Council, schools, parents and the wider community understand the need for specialist provision planning and to establish future demand. It will provide a basis against which future specialist provision will be planned.

The data within the strategy suggests that the priorities for development are:

  • The development of Post-16 Autism and SEMH provision/pathways
  • The development of services/and or provision to support Early Years and Reception pupils with additional needs.
  • Further expansion of special schools places in particular SLD places with a focus around expansion at Merstone School, or through the creation of a new special school.
  • Develop SEMH additionally resourced provision/special school hub for pupils with an EHCP in the secondary phase.
  • Review the need for SEMH additionally resourced provision for pupils with an EHCP in the primary phase.
  • Review the SEMH provision at Tudor Grange Primary - Yew Tree to include provision of KS1 places.
  • Explore and develop spend to save initiatives through the creation of additionally resourced provision to target out of borough placements.

 How are new school places funded?

The Government has provided two grants to Council’s to support the physical expansion of specialist accommodation and buildings.

The SEND High Needs Provision Fund for Solihull equates to over £1 million over a 3 year period. The Special Provision Plan shows how Solihull’s grant has been invested to benefit children and young people with an EHCP.

The High Needs Capital Allocation for Solihull equates to just over £1 million and can be used to meet the needs of children and young people in SEND provision or in Alternative Provision.

The SEND School Place Commissioning Strategy will be used to determining the priorities that can be met from this capital allocation along with the emerging Alternative Provision Strategy.

The Council’s High Needs Block Funding provides the funding for the school place, including the teacher and resources a pupils needs.

How to get involved?

The School Place Planning Team is really keen to hear your views about our plans for creating specialist provision in Solihull. 

Where new provision is planned we will carry out consultation with parents/carers, schools and all other interested parties. However if you want to comment on any of the information published on this page please email researchandpolicy@solihull.gov.uk.