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Westminster City Council invests nearly £4 million in dedicated SEND facilities for young people and their families 

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Lord Mayor and staff cutting ribbon for Tresham North opening

Recognising an increase in demand for services for children with special education needs and disabilities (SEND), Westminster City Council has expanded its extensive current offer by investing nearly £4 million in dedicated SEND facilities for young residents and their families.  

A brand-new SEND facility has opened in the south of Westminster - known as Tresham South, and a major refurbishment and expansion of our facility in the north of Westminster – known as Tresham North, has taken place to greatly improve our SEND provision right across the city. 

£1.8 million has been spent on our brand-new Tresham South site in Pimlico in response to parents and carer feedback. This site includes our Short Breaks service – a place for children with SEND to experience unforgettable activities and develop vital skills, while giving their families time away from their caring responsibilities, as well as a new council-funded campus for College Park Special School. 

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Classroom in College Park Special School

The new Short Breaks centre contains two main activity rooms that cater for lots of different types of free flow play: one for older children and one for younger children. It also features arts and craft spaces and a main hall for larger group activities. The school’s facilities include a sensory room, occupational therapy suites and seven classrooms to provide an additional 50 school spaces for SEN children.  

College Park School and the Short Breaks service also share several state-of-the-art facilities - these include a sensory room with a number of exciting elements, a soft play area, and a large playground space with an outdoor play area.    

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Sensory room at Tresham South Centre

In the north of Westminster, £1.9 million of council funding has gone towards significant refurbishment and expansion to our existing popular Tresham North Short Breaks centre near Edgware Road. This provides cutting edge and expanded facilities, including an outside cinema, two soft plays, youth zone and facilities for children with complex health needs.

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Staff at opening of Tresham South

Our expanded Short Breaks service addresses the council’s desire to increase SEND provision in the south of the city. It offers eligible children a local place where they can socialise, enjoy activities and learn in a safe and nurturing environment.    

The development of all SEND provision across Westminster, including these new facilities, happens in collaboration with Make it Happen, a parents’ forum for those with children and young people who have special needs and disabilities.  

At our opening event for our new Short Breaks Facility in the South of Westminster, Charlie Lynch, said:   

Having this centre will really help my son socially, physically and emotionally. Nothing like this exists to include children with learning disabilities in the community. It gives them a chance to make friends, learn who they are as individuals, and have a safe space to play as part of a community.  

Claire Sheppard, Headteacher at College Park Special School, said:  

Westminster City Council have been instrumental in making this place work, making it the best it can be and has been really supportive in everything we do. It’s been amazing having local councillors and a great education department that are willing to invest in our children with special needs, knowing that there is such a demand.  

Kayleigh Lloyd, our Short Breaks Service manager said:   

The additional provision in the south of the city is something we’ve been really looking forward to. We cannot wait to welcome more of our families so they can access this new free, and fully accessible facility, that I know will be really enjoyed by all the children who attend here.  

Cllr Aicha Less, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children at Westminster City Council said:   

The council remains committed to a forward-thinking approach for special educational needs and disabilities provision. By actively consulting with local communities, we aim to understand their needs and identify the best way to provide comprehensive support. Our goal is to ensure that every child and young person with SEND receives the care, opportunities and resources they deserve, and these brilliant new facilities will help us to make that a reality in Westminster.  

Note to editors:  

Our Short Breaks service provides a number of different types of activity for children with SEND up to the age of 18 who have a package to attend the centres with a school holiday scheme, Saturday provision and after school activities. The aim is to provide valuable respite for parents and carers, as well as fantastic play and leisure activities for the children who attend. We have two centres within the city – Tresham North and Tresham South. To find out more about our Short Breaks service you can visit: https://www.westminster.gov.uk/shortbreaks. 

College Park Special School is a local authority school in Westminster for children with autism and complex learning difficulties.

Find out more about support for children with SEND on our family information hub - Family Information Hub | SEND Local Offer 

Published: 29 October 2024