East Lothian Council could save an estimated £9million a year following plans to create new classroom spaces for pupils with additional support needs.
Demand for specialist provision for pupils with additional support needs (ASN) has more than doubled in East Lothian over the last five years.
A report due to go before councillors next week seeks approval to increase the number of ASN units in mainstream schools across the county from six to nine to provide 122 more places.
And it reveals the huge savings the new classrooms will make for the local authority by reducing the number of youngsters who have to travel outside of the county for their education.
It says the cost of educating each ASN pupil in the county is estimated at £27,494 – £3.3million for the 122 pupils, while sending them out of the county costs £100,077 per pupil (£12.3million in total).
A consultation on plans to introduce the new units at Musselburgh Grammar School, Stoneyhill Primary School, in Musselburgh, and Law Primary School, in North Berwick, received overwhelming support during a consultation held earlier this year with between 87 per cent and 93 per cent of those taking part welcoming the plans across the schools.
The report points out that currently there is no ASN provision in Musselburgh, the county’s biggest town, or North Berwick, saying : “The addition of these provisions will provide a more equitable distribution of resource across the county. It will also, in time, reduce the distances children and young people must travel to access ASN provision”.
Commenting on the consultation it says: “A total of 681 survey responses were received. Each of these were overwhelmingly in favour of the proposed provisions.
“Ninety three per cent of respondents for Law Primary strongly agreed or agreed with opening a provision. This figure was 87 per cent for Stoneyhill Primary and 92 per cent for Musselburgh Grammar.”
The new primary school units will have spaces for 62 pupils between them with Musselburgh Grammar’s new provision providing 60 new spaces.
The report reminds councillors that local authorities have a legal duty to make make adequate and efficient provision of school education across its area.
It says: “There has been a significant growth in demand in East Lothian for specialist ASN provision to meet the needs of children and young people with ASN which is complex and enduring and cannot be met within a mainstream setting. Between 2020 and 2025 this demand has increased by 132%
The new classrooms could be open by August next year if approved by councillors at next week’s meeting
By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter
