Sarah Newton, the Conservative MP for Truro and Falmouth, has today welcomed two government announcements confirming funding to create extra school places in Cornwall.
Firstly, councils will receive an extra £50million to create around 740 additional school places and state-of-the-art facilities for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), giving families more choice and helping to meet increasing demand.
Cornwall will be given more than £2.3million in the three years from 2018 to 2021, after an uplift of £444,957 to its initial allocation of just over £1.9million.
Secondly, councils will receive £680million in basic need funding to create 40,000 more good school places in primary and secondary schools by September 2021.
Cornwall will be given more than £27million in the three years from 2018 to 2021, at an average of over £9million a year. That compares with an average of just over £5.5million a year in the seven years from 2011 to 2018.
Mrs Newton, who is also the Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work, said: “It is essential that every child – regardless of their needs, background or circumstances – has access to a good school place so they will be able to fulfil their potential.
“This funding will have a positive impact here and help many more children in Cornwall get the best possible start in life.”
Children and Families Minister Nadhim Zahawi said: “All parents want to send their child to a good local school – one that meets their individual needs and supports them to achieve their full potential, regardless of the challenges they may face.
“This funding will help to create thousands more school places across the country, with a clear focus on transforming the experience of education for children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).”
The funding boost comes as new analysis shows 91% of school places created in 2016/17 were in schools rated as good or outstanding by Ofsted.