A SCHOOL has applied for permission to build a new music building – freeing up space for new special educational needs provision which will save the council money.

The Educational Alliance of Canford Heath (TEACH Poole) has applied for a certificate of lawfulness for a proposed modular building at Canford Heath Junior School.

The new building will feature a junior music room, three one-to-one music rooms and a meeting space for the trust.

A supporting statement submitted by Coomber Associates Limited on behalf of the applicant said the new building was needed as the current music space will be transformed into a speech, language and communication needs resource base and therapy rooms.

The statement recognises the growing need for additional provision for SEND pupils in the BCP Council area.

It also recognises the ‘subsequent demand for places for young people with additional speech, language and communication needs requirements’.

As reported, the council’s high needs budget is in ‘significant deficit’, which the planning statement alludes to.

This new building ‘will better meet the needs of local children, whilst also providing a more cost-effective placement for BCP’, the applicant said.

“This resource base will provide much needed specialist places for children with SALT needs, meaning that this will free up other mainstream places within schools for children with other needs,” the statement said.

“Being able to access local provision will also cut costs and ensure the high needs block at BCP is better spent - this in itself will impact other schools positively in terms of the funding they can access to help their own schools meet pupils' needs.”

The redeveloped music rooms will provide space for 20 children with education, health and care plans (EHCPs), with the statement saying there will be an anticipated 5090 children with these plans by 2026/27, an increase of 70 per cent since 2021.

The statement added: “Importantly, the increased availability of quality local provision will help children stay connected to their communities, reduce distances and travel time between home and school and support the council’s efforts to manage demand for travel assistance.

“These proposed schemes will also develop a wider range of pathways as children transition from early years to primary through secondary and post 16 provision and into employment, including supported internships.

“This will help reduce reliance on the independent sector and provide opportunities for future cost avoidance.

“The current buildings on site cannot deliver on this proposal using the existing floor space without impacting on education for all pupils.”

No date has been set for a decision on the plans at this stage.