Plans for Specialist Inclusion Base at Petworth Primary School
Plans to set up a centre at Petworth Primary School for children with special needs and disabilities have come one step closer to completion.
Following a decision by Sam Raby, cabinet member for children, young people and learning, West Sussex County Council is to publish its statutory proposals for a 12-place Specialist Inclusion Base (SIB) at the school in South Grove.
Formerly known as Specialist Support Centres, SIBs support children with specific needs in a mainstream setting, rather than placing them in costly independent and non-maintained special schools.
A report by Claire Hayes, service director for education and skills, laid out the proposal to move the school’s nursery out of the main building and into the adjacent former Children & Family Centre, which closed in 2021. This would free-up space for the SIB to be established within the school.
A public consultation, held in the autumn, attracted 99 responses, with 89 in support of the proposals.
Concerns were raised about funding for the SIB as well as the need for experienced staff and suitable training. Responses from the council stated that, should the proposal go ahead, the school would receive appropriate funding for extra staff, while training and support would be in place to meet the needs of the children.
Parents were assured that funding allocated to the SIB would not impact on the funding allocated to mainstream pupils.
If all goes as planned, the SIB will be in place for September 2027. But first, the school will need to apply for planning permission.