Multi-million pound plans for a new special school on the Isle of Wight have been put forward by the Isle of Wight Council.
A joint bid has been submitted to the Department for Education, with Hampshire County Council, for a 'free school' on land next to Carisbrooke College in Newport.
The school, which could hold up to 75 pupils with additional needs, would be the Island's third special school after Medina House and St George's — both of which are now full.
The council said it would offer specialist support and education for pupils aged between four and 16 with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) such as autism or social emotional and mental health conditions.
If the funding is granted, the new school would significantly increase the availability of much-needed specialist provision places on the Island.
Councillor Debbie Andre, Cabinet member for children's service, education and lifelong skills, said:
"The council is committed to ensuring all children can access high-quality education as near to their family and local communities as possible.
"We feel that this has many benefits both in terms of the health and wellbeing of our Island children, especially those with Special Educational Needs, and also in the reduction of carbon emissions which supports our Island's UNESCO Biosphere status.
"At present, some children and young people from the Island have to travel significant distances to access their special schools. This only adds to the stress both for them and their parents and means that they don’t always arrive at school ready for learning.
"A brand new, centrally located special school would enable them to go to school close to their homes and with their friends, which would support their social and emotional wellbeing.
"In many cases, it would reduce travelling time and, therefore, the time spent away from home, which, in turn, would also give them more opportunity to socialise outside of the school environment to feel a valued part of their community."
The Island has the fifth highest number of pupils with Educational Health Care Plans (EHCP) across England at 1,450. And it is a figure that is expected to grow by 2027.
It means the council is having to place pupils in more expensive independent placements both here and on the mainland.
Supporting the bid, the Island's MP Bob Seely said:
"Ensuring we have sufficient specialist placements on the Island to meet need is vitally important. I am therefore writing to the Minister asking them to prioritise this bid.
"Placing children locally on the Island in high-quality local provision will help children and young people achieve better whilst also keeping families and communities together."
The Department for Education (DfE) has set aside £2.6bn of capital investment to deliver up to 60 new specialist free schools across the UK before the next government spending review (the date for which has not been confirmed).
A free school functions like an academy, insofar as they are funded directly by the DfE rather than through the local authority.
The government is expected to make an announcement on the successful bids by the end of the year to early 2023.
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