Giving children the very best start in life is one of our key ambitions at the council.
Giving children the very best start in life is one of our key ambitions at the council, so I was proud to have it confirmed once again that children and young people in Lincolnshire are receiving ‘outstanding’ support.
Ofsted inspectors visited the county to review the help, protection and care provided, and the inspectors rated the council’s children’s services as ‘outstanding’ overall.
They reported that families in Lincolnshire continue to have access to local services that help to keep them safe, and support them to make good progress.
The report also noted that council staff, schools and other adults involved in the children’s lives worked to ensure that help was provided quickly when needed, before issues had a chance to escalate.
This excellent Ofsted report comes at an exciting time. Over the past few months we have seen the official opening of new or improved facilities at three sites for children with special educational needs.
In Lincoln, we have celebrated the opening of the new £13m St Christopher’s Primary School. The new 130-place special school includes 15 classrooms alongside therapy spaces such as sensory and soft play. In addition, there is a large hall, a hydrotherapy pool and physiotherapy and medical rooms.
We have had so much great feedback from parents about this school and it will complement St Christopher’s current Hykeham Road site, which will now be home to secondary-aged pupils only.
In Louth, we have seen the opening of a new teaching block at St Bernard’s School – an £8.7m project which we are very proud of. We have extended and refurbished the property to meet special educational needs with dedicated hygiene suites, kitchen and dining space, a laundry area and a meeting room.
And in Spilsby, we have completed a £6.8m project at the Eresby School, which will see additional classrooms, a hall for rebound therapy, a dedicated IT suite, science and technology space, calm rooms, physiotherapy space and improved staff facilities.
Improvements have also been made to the outside areas, including the creation of sensory and horticultural zones and a cycle track.
Our ambitious £100m improvement programme will mean more pupils with SEND can attend a local school rather than having to travel large distances for their education, which will be of great benefit to both the children and their families.
All children deserve to have a great start in life, and as Ofsted has recognised, we are committed to achieving this.