THE Furness MP said he was ‘concerned’ at the council’s proposal to place a new special school in the Eden area.

Earlier in May, Westmorland and Furness Council received confirmation from government that its bid for a special school for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) had been successful.

The council say they are aiming to locate the school within the Eden area and the application was for approximately 140 places for children aged four-19 with autism and speech, communications and language difficulties.

MP for Barrow and Furness Simon Fell said in a letter to chief executive of the Westmorland and Furness Council Sam Plum, he was ‘delighted’ with the government’s announcement to improve SEND provision and rectify the ‘chronic lack’ of SEND school places.

But he added: “I am however concerned at the council’s chosen location for the new school in the Eden area.

“As you are aware from my ongoing correspondence with you regarding SEND education in Barrow & Furness there are many families in need of schools closer to home.”

His letter says: “Constituents tell me that it is often the case that the school that caters towards their child’s specific needs is full, meaning that the child goes to another specialist school or a mainstream school which may not be able to fully support their child’s needs.”

The letter to chief executive of the council questions how the provision of a SEND school in Eden would benefit the whole of Westmorland and Furness.

Mr Fell also asked what measures the council would be taking to ensure SEND provision in Barrow and Furness receives the improvements it ‘desperately needs’ .

In response, chief executive of the council Sam Plum said in a letter to the MP: “Currently, the most northerly special school is in Kendal and there isn’t a Special School in Eden, which means parents, carers and families do not have the necessary provision for their children and young people.

“Any increase in Specialist provision will impact positively across Westmorland and Furness, including Barrow, as it will increase capacity within the entire system.

“With regards to Barrow, the council have invested in Channelside Alternative Provision which will be opening in January 2025 and will increase specialist places within the Barrow area.”

The letter says as part of the SEND sufficiency strategy, which is in development, the council are continuing to review specialist places in Barrow.

“The plans for the new Special School have not yet been finalised and everyone with an interest in the provision for Westmorland and Furness will have an opportunity in the coming months to provide their feedback on the proposals as we bring them forward”, the letter adds.