WEST WORCESTERSHIRE MP Dame Harriett Baldwin has confirmed that the delayed Autism Free School planned for Malvern will still go ahead.
The MP contacted the Department for Education to ask for confirmation that the proposed school for children with extra educational needs will proceed following the Worcestershire County Council decision to halt plans for a new secondary school.
The Reform-led council has scaled back plans to invest in education and local people expressed concerns that councillors would now look to scale back special educational needs provision.
But responding to a letter from Dame Harriett, School Minister Catherine McKinnell confirmed that the new Malvern school was still expected to proceed and the Department for Education was working with the council to try and find ways to accelerate the project.
Dame Harriett said: “There has been local concern about whether the new Reform-led council would shelve the new Malvern school as part of a spending reduction exercise and I contacted the Government to make sure that this project can still go ahead.
“I have been reassured that the school still remains on the schedule, a site has been earmarked and an operator has been appointed. I am also encouraged that the Department for Education is looking to speed up the work.
“We all agree that the county council will benefit from delivering this school by reducing the substantial costs of sending children out of the county for education.
“There is a great need for extra dedicated education provision and a new autism free school will also help to take the pressure off the wider school system.
“I remain hopeful that this Malvern school will go ahead and I will be keeping a close eye on this matter through the coming months.”
