We have approved funding of almost £770,000 towards the expansion of a school in Hertfordshire offering Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) places for children.
At a Full Council meeting this evening (17 July 2024), members approved the allocation of up to £769,058 of Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding as the council’s contribution to ensuring the relocation and enlargement of Breakspeare School, which is located in the Three Rivers district and provides for children from two years old to adults aged 19 with severe learning difficulties across South West Hertfordshire.
Hertsmere is committing funding to the project, which was the subject of a bid from Hertfordshire County Council aimed at meeting future demand for SEND places. The existing Breakspeare School, in Abbots Langley, is operating at full capacity with no potential for expansion on the site.
The proposed new site scheme, which is expected to cost more than £31million overall, will see the school relocated to Croxley Green from January 2026. This will enable an increase in capacity from 97 to 210 places.
At a meeting last week, the council’s Cabinet recommended that the funding be approved and for the plan subsequently to go before this evening’s Full Council meeting.
Councillor Jeremy Newmark, Leader of the Council, said: “We are pleased to be providing a significant amount of new funding to support this vitally important scheme, which we hope will help to benefit some of the most vulnerable children in our borough for many years to come.
“We are committed to ensure that every child in Hertsmere has the best possible start in life, and can thrive whatever their ability and regardless of the challenges they face. This project to create more much-needed school places is just one part of us delivering on that commitment.”
Posted on Wednesday 17th July 2024