Central Government has presented North East Lincolnshire Council with a critical decision regarding the establishment of a special needs free school in Grimsby. Council officials must choose between proceeding with plans for the school or accepting a £7 million grant to enhance existing mainstream educational provisions for children with special educational needs.
The proposed school, designed to support children with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs, is slated for the site of former high-rise flats located off Albion Street in the East Marsh area of Grimsby. The initiative has been in the works since 2022 when the council’s cabinet approved the creation of the school and sought funding from the Department for Education (DfE). In 2023, the DfE confirmed its commitment to financing the new SEMH free school, yet the site has remained unused since the demolition of the high-rises in 2018.
On February 11, 2024, the council’s cabinet will convene to discuss two options. The first option involves moving forward with the construction of the new 150-place SEMH free school, primarily funded by the DfE. However, this path would require an additional investment from the council of approximately £2.3 million, bringing the total local contribution to £3 million.
The alternative option is to forgo the free school entirely. Instead, the council would receive £7 million from the government to implement a series of smaller projects aimed at creating specialist educational places within mainstream schools across the borough. This option has garnered attention as it could facilitate the development of tailored support in various locations.
A report prepared for the council’s cabinet meeting contains a recommendation from council officers to proceed with the SEMH free school project. The report highlights potential annual savings, as the school would reduce the need for local children to travel outside the borough for specialized education.
This decision reflects a broader trend, as numerous councils across the UK face similar choices regarding special needs education. In December, the DfE announced new provisions allowing local authorities to allocate funds intended for special needs schools to alternative educational projects.
North East Lincolnshire Council has engaged in comprehensive discussions with partners to evaluate the available options, including investing in specialist resources at schools in Healing, Scartho, and Waltham. The council bears the responsibility for preparing the land at Albion Street for construction, which includes addressing abnormal costs such as flood mitigation measures. Last year, the Environment Agency raised concerns about flood risk on the site, which will need to be effectively managed.
The former high-rise buildings, which stood since the 1960s, were demolished in 2018. At one point, the site was even considered as a potential new location for Grimsby Town FC. The forthcoming decision by the council will have significant implications for the future of special needs education in the region and the support available for affected children and their families.
