St John Bosco College is one of six schools to be discussed in next week's meeting.

The council's children's services department has drawn up a list of potential schemes costing just under £5 million to improve support for SEND children in Wandsworth.

The scheme would see an increase in the authorised capacity of the Savio resource base from 25 to 45 places in the age range from Year 11 to Year 13.

Savio offers a quiet and supportive environment away from the usual hustle and bustle of school life.

It is a base for students with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCPs) specifying a diagnosis of autism, speech difficulties and language difficulties, or social communication disorder as a prime area of need.

The school could also see an increase to the authorised capacity of the Devereux resource base at the school from 7 to 18 places.

Devereux is a base for students with autistic spectrum disorder, social communication disorder and mental health needs.

From October 2018 the school has provided a targeted specialist resource base provision for young people who have an EHCP specifying ASD or social communication disorder and who have complex mental health needs including high levels of anxiety, eating disorders, phobias or self-harming behaviours.

Last year there were more than 530 pupils attending Wandsworth's network of special schools and 246 SEND pupils in mainstream schools.

Around £20 million was spent on supporting these children at school and a further £9 million was used to fund SEND children who attend schools in the private and independent sector.

In the last five years, the number of children and young people in the borough with EHCPs has increased by 78 per cent and it is predicted to increase by a further 8.9 per cent in the next decade.

It is believed the proposed expansion would benefit some children currently attending private or independent special schools as it would mean less time travelling out of the borough, allowing them to spend more time with their peers and make friends in their neighbourhood.

They would be able to attend and integrate into their local school and community.

Visit the council's website to learn more.

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