Wera Hobhouse has described the SEND provision at Oldfield School as ‘exceptional’ following a visit at the start of World Autism Acceptance Month.
As the new term got underway, the Bath MP visited the school to meet staff and pupils, including headteacher Andy Greenhough, and tour its dedicated SEND unit, Hemmings.
During the visit, she saw first-hand how the school is supporting a growing number of pupils with additional needs within a mainstream setting.
Out of around 1,300 pupils, Oldfield School currently has 450 students on its SEND register, including 78 with Educational, Health and Care Plans.
The school has invested heavily in its provision, with Hemmings offering a range of specialist spaces including mentoring rooms, access to speech and language therapy, and a sensory room for pupils who may feel overwhelmed.
To meet demand, the school employs a wide range of specialist staff, including speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, teaching assistants and a primary-trained teacher to support pupils who arrive without expected secondary-level understanding.
Andy Greenhough, headteacher, said, “The support we provide means many of our students with SEND engage and achieve in mainstream education. But such a high level of support comes at a cost, and one that the Government is unfairly expecting schools to bear the brunt of.”
While recent Government proposals in the Schools White Paper have outlined reforms to England’s SEND system, concerns remain about whether funding will match the scale of need.
Wera Hobhouse said, “I was delighted to meet with staff at Oldfield School to see the wonderful work they are doing to support students with special educational needs and disabilities. They are to be commended for their exceptional work that makes learning engaging and accessible for all.
“However, while the Government’s White Paper talks of increasing inclusion in mainstream settings, it does not promise nearly enough funding to make this a reality. For schools like Oldfield, who are already going above and beyond, asking them to do more is completely unrealistic and shows that the Government does not understand the reality of the problem. Schools urgently need more funding, not later down the line, but now.”
