Council Seeks Views On Planning For Future Education.

Havering Council has launched a newconsultation to ensure that the demand for future school places is met.

The draft Children and Young People Education Place Planning Plan will set out how the needs of children from nursery through to sixth form will be met over the next four years.

The Council is keen to hear from parents, carers, residents, education providers, stakeholders and any other interested parties about the plan.

Councillor Oscar Ford, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said:

“We want to ensure we continue to provide first-class education and facilities to meet the growing demand for places for the range of needs locally. We therefore look forward to hearing from parents and carers and anyone interested in the plans, as their views will help us with our decision-making.”

The draft plan outlines the growing demand for Special Educational Needs and Disability and Alternative Provision places.

Havering has applied for a new 150 place all-through (from primary to post-16) Alternative Provision free school, in partnership with an independent provider.

Figures from the Census showed a 52% increase in the number of births between 2002 and 2016, but a decrease between 2016 and 2021. A lower fertility rate in the borough means there will be a reduction in the demand for school places in the future.

However, at present the demand is high, with a 58% increase in the volume of applications received throughout the year compared to the same period two years earlier.

Cabinet recently heard that plans for a new secondary school in the borough had been paused, after current projections showed there was no immediate demand for an additional secondary school; while a bid for a new special free school for children with Special Educational Needs and Disability, was unsuccessful.

The consultation runs until 15 May and can be found here

Stay up to date with all of our latest updates and content by following us on our social media accounts!

We have created community pages where we will share our up-to-date stories happening in the area. Add the area closest to where you live.

Support Local Journalism
We at The Havering Daily appreciate your support of quality journalism. Your generous donation, no matter the size, allows us to continue bringing unbiased and informative news to the community. Your contribution helps us maintain our independence and allows us to continue providing high-quality journalism. Thank you for valuing the work we do and for supporting our mission

Thank you