The council’s overview and scrutiny commission has sent an open letter (PDF, 147KB) to the secretary of state for education to get answers on the funding and timing for the new 100 place autism school in Buckler’s Park.
The letter, which was sent on Tuesday, 3 June, asks for the minister and Department for Education (DfE) to:
- confirm the capital funding allocation for Forest View School without further delay
- commit to building the school immediately, or, if the DfE lacks capacity within its own programme, approve Bracknell Forest Council’s proposal to deliver the project under a capital grant model
- provide a clear and immediate timeline for recommencement if neither of the above options is feasible
Forest View School is the planned 100 place school for children with autism in Buckler’s Park, Crowthorne. It is an integral part of the council’s plan to provide more school places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The need for the new school is underscored by the recent Ofsted and Care Quality Commission inspection of local SEND services for Bracknell Forest children and young people.
The report highlighted the lack of sufficient, appropriate educational provision for children and young people with SEND, resulting in many children with SEND having to be educated outside of Bracknell Forest. It also noted that children with SEND are experiencing disrupted education due to inadequate specialist school provision. This is contributing to delays in assessment, unmet needs, and poor educational outcomes.
Not only is the development of the school crucial for the education and wellbeing of our children, it is also critical in helping to reduce the spending on out of borough and independent school places. It is due to save the council up to £63,000 per pupil per year.
The delay in building the school also risks the council’s ability to meet the terms of the Safety Valve agreement with the DfE. The Safety Valve is a national initiative aimed at addressing financial challenges in providing high-quality services for children and young people with SEND. If the council doesn’t meet the agreed actions in the Safety Valve, then it can cause additional financial pressure.
The overview and scrutiny commission’s letter was supported by all members - who are from a range of political parties. It asks for a formal response by the end of June 2025.
Cllr Georgia Pickering, chair of the overview and scrutiny commission, said:
“We’ve written to the secretary of state for education to get some clarity on what is happening with the much-needed autism school in Crowthorne.
“The council has worked as hard and fast as it can to do the groundwork for the project but as it’s not our project, we currently can’t take it any further. We have offered to take the project forward locally if the DfE doesn’t have capacity, but due to a funding review it is on indefinite hold.
“We need answers and clarity on the planned school’s future as we desperately need extra SEND education places in Bracknell Forest. Without it, we risk compromising the education and life chances of some of our most vulnerable children. It also puts our already stretched budget under increasing pressure.
“Everyone in Bracknell Forest wants the school to proceed – this isn’t about politics but about the future of our local children. We look forward to receiving a full update from the minister and DfE shortly.”
More information
The council’s overview and scrutiny commission is a cross-party group of councillors.