I have had the pleasure of working with the Team at Abbey Court School over a number of years, even before i was first elected to parliament in 2015. I can personally tell you about the incredible work being done there. The dedication of its teachers and staff to providing the best education and services for local pupils with special educational needs & disabilities (SEND) is really inspiring. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed, as shown by Abbey Court’s recent Ofsted ratings.
In March 2023 when Abbey Court was judged to be an outstanding school for the fourth consecutive time by Ofsted inspectors. The inspectors had high praise for the school, noting:
- "Abbey Court provides an inspirational physical and emotional environment in which pupils thrive and enjoy their education."
- "Communication, personal development, and safety sit at the heart of the curriculum."
- "The curriculum on offer at Abbey Court School is exceptional."
Supporting Abbey Court makes such a difference for our community. Abbey Court makes sure that children with special educational needs & disabilities receive the individualised support they require to navigate their unique learning challenges. This approach maximises the students’ potential, so they can keep up they with their peers, which creates an inclusive environment where every child has the opportunity to succeed.
Local SEND provision, like that offered by Abbey Court, facilitates the development of strong, lasting relationships between students, families, teachers, and support staff. These relationships are the bedrock of this education, where students with SEND can truly thrive. The continuity created over time helps address the unique and evolving needs of each child. Furthermore, research has consistently shown that SEND students achieve better outcomes when they receive support in these inclusive settings. By continuing to fund and support Abbey Court, we are investing in the future of our children, and make sure they receive the education and care they deserve.
After years of campaigning by Karen Joy OBE former headteacher the new primary provision was built on the old Temple school site on Cliffe Road, providing exceptional facilities to meet the needs of our young people. The plan from the Abbey Court team has always been to be able to provide great education and opportunities for young people with SEND needs through to the age of 25, to enable all of our local young people to get the opportunity to reach their full potential.
However, with the success of the schools reputation and the increased demand for secondary places the Rede Court Road secondary provision site is no longer fit for purpose to support the increased need locally for our young people. The school now have plans to rebuild the provision, to provide more places to meet local demand with better facilities for our young people. I was pleased to visit the school and meet with Vicky Aspin Headteacher and Karen Joy OBE to discuss their proposal and what is needed locally to meet demand and improve provision.
I am fully backing this plan and will do I can to support the Abbey Court team to make sure this project gets going. Medway Council need to get on board with this project and work with stakeholders and the Department for Education in order to plan a way forward to deliver the required spaces and get this provision built. Medway recently received some extra funding from the Government, just over £5m to provide for extra places, but it is clear Medway Council need to provide a longer term plan to meet local demand. We know a plan to improve and expand local provision will bring cost savings to the council, being able to reduce the number of young people who need to travel out of the area for education, we also know this is better for the young people and their families not to have to travel long distances to get the education and support they need.
I have worked extensively with Abbey Court in the past and will always support their work. I know how important this school is for parents and pupils, and I am unwavering in my support for their call for this project. This is a hugely important issue for many parents, and I am pleased to work with all parties to arrive at the best possible outcome, keeping both the present and future in mind.
Abbey Court is a wonderful school with an outstanding team and deserves an exciting future, providing the best possible education for SEND pupils.
