Cumberland Council has tabled proposals to set up additional Resource Provision placements for children and youngsters with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) across several local schools and academies.

The council presented the proposals today, with will see 58 additional placements, shining a light on the importance of them as demand for special needs education provision continues to increase in the area.

Resource Provisions are facilities within mainstream schools, providing targeted assistance to pupils with an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP).

These students remain on the mainstream school roll, receiving support from both specialist and regular school staff.

The council's plans aim to create 26 Resource Provision places in council-maintained schools in Carlisle, Millom, and Cleator Moor, with a further 32 places at academy schools in Carlisle, Maryport, and Whitehaven.

Approval of the proposed placements would enable students' needs to be met closer to their homes, bolstering Cumberland's commitment to providing education in a supportive setting that suits each individual's requirements.

These prospective 58 slots would cater for a range of SEND requirements - autism, serious learning difficulties, social or emotional mental health issues, physical and medical needs, and speech, language and communication needs.

The detailed proposals await a final decision in an Executive meeting due in July.

Emma Hamer, assistant director for Education, SEND and Inclusion said: "The demand for specialist education places for children and young people with SEND is a national issue.

"In Cumberland our population is spread far further than in other areas of the country, therefore we must continue to take a creative and innovative approach to develop much needed specialist provision across our area.

"These proposals go towards us ensuring we can support our children and young people and their families and that they have access to education provision closer to their homes."

Ms Hamer further regarded these propositions as a significant step in the right direction towards developing more specialist provisions in Cumberland.

She said: "More development of specialist provision places is needed and we hope that the councillors will approve the proposals in July and Cumberland Council can move forward with the next steps.

"A full, accessible and well-rounded education is vital for children and young people’s wellbeing and development, and these provisions will ensure that more children and young people in the community can access the specialist support they need."