Milton Keynes City Council have announced plans to increase investment to expand services for children with autism in the local area.
The City Council pledged investments of more than £660,000 to expand the number of local school places and support for children with autism in Milton Keynes.
This expansion is part of wider work to support a rising number of children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) as the city grows.
The investment would allow the creation of specialist teaching units for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) at two schools – Bradwell Village School and Priory Common School. A decision to go ahead with the work is set for 30 July.
Two dedicated units would provide places for an additional 36 pupils across the two sites including teaching spaces with breakout areas, intervention rooms and outdoor play areas.
Construction work, which includes some internal remodelling as well as extra buildings, would begin next year with places expected to be ready for September 2025.
The expansion of these two schools is one of several projects the City Council is looking to take forward to increase local support for children and families with SEND. Between 2015 and 2023, the number of children with EHCPs in Milton Keynes rose by 40%, whilst the number of children needing support with autism has almost doubled.
Councillor Joe Hearnshaw, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said, “We continue to expand our network of specialist local support for young people with additional needs. We already have six excellent special schools in Milton Keynes and another seven with specialist departments but as the city continues to grow, we expect increased demand for places. We know these additional teaching units will be a welcome boost to these inclusive schools and the communities they serve.”
Schools that were interested in providing these additional places were invited to submit an expression of interest. These were reviewed by a panel of specialist officers who identified the two sites as being most suitable to support this area of need.
MK Dons have announced the loan signing of goalkeeper Tom McGill from Brighton and Hove Albion.
The 24-year-old Canadian joins the Dons for the season, and will be MK Dons’ tenth new recruit ahead of the upcoming 2024/25 season in League Two.
McGill made the move to Milton Keynes upon his return to England, having been a member of the Canadian squad during the Copa America in June and July.
The goalkeeper joined Brighton in 2014 and has spent his career with the Seagulls, while he has also made loan moves out to Worthing, Greenwich Borough, Basingstoke Town and Crawley Town, although he made just one EFL appearance for Crawley and five overall before he was recalled by his parent club.
McGill has also been a regular on the bench for the Seagulls’ first team in the Premier League and Europa League.
In an arrival interview with MK Dons, McGill said he was happy to move to Milton Keynes and was looking forward to getting started.
He said, “It was an easy decision for me after a couple of conversations with the gaffer, I got told you can play with freedom, within the realms of what we’re trying to do here, and that’s all any player wants to hear really!
“For me, having a run of games, having the freedom to play under a gaffer that plays a similar style to what I’m used to, that’s all I’m after, winning and success with a team that deserves it I think.”
Mike Williamson also said he felt McGill had the prospect to be the right fit for the club, with the Dons Head Coach saying that he was confident Brighton’s work developing McGill would make him the right fit for his system.
He said, “We ask a lot of our goalkeepers, and that’ll be no different for Tom. He’s a bright, energetic player who we’re confident has the footballing intelligence to excel in our system. Brighton have done a fantastic job with his development, now it’s up to us to get the best out of him.”
Unite has called a strike among workers at the Wolverton Works site in Milton Keynes.
The trade union has announced that over 60 workers who primarily work at the site intend to strike in late July and early August, which Unite has said is in response to a dispute centred around how complaints and grievances are being handled by their employer Gemini Rail Services.
The strike called will run between 30th July and 3rd August, which is intended to affect work at a site that helps maintain rolling stock used on the UK national railway network.
In a statement announcing the strike, Unite said that the strike came from a dispute over back pay that has since escalated with issues in the interaction between the union and the company.
They said, “The workforce is currently involved in a longstanding grievance against their employer over owed back pay that has seen them potentially thousands of pounds out of pocket.
“Gemini is now refusing to allow workers to be represented by their Unite workplace rep as he is also attempting to raise his own grievance for loss of pay. This is a fundamental breach of the recognition agreement that Unite has with Gemini Rail Services, resulting in the workforce becoming further angered by management actions.”
In a statement shared by the union, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Gemini need to stop playing games and denying workers basic union rights. This absurd behaviour will only further damage industrial relations and does the company no favours.
“Unite will be fully supporting its members in all industrial action they take to make Gemini see sense.”
Gemini Rail Services have yet to publicly comment.
Luton Town will host the England under-21s team for a friendly against Austria in early September.
The England under-21 team will play Austria at Kenilworth Road on Monday 9th September 2024, with the game taking place as a 7:45pm kick-off.
The match will be one of England’s two games in the September international break, with the team also scheduled to play Northern Ireland in a a qualifier for the 2025 Under-21 Euros, which are scheduled to take place in Slovakia next year.
Luton will be hosting an England under-21s game for the first time in 31 years, when Kenilworth Road hosted a match between England and San Marino in February 1993. That game saw future England stars Steve McManaman, Jamie Redknapp and Darren Anderton among the scorers in a 6-0 win.
The Hatters have confirmed that tickets for the game cost £15 for adults or £10 for Luton Town season ticket holders and members, while concessions (66+, U22 & U17) are £7.50 or £5 for Luton Town season ticket holders and members.
Police have released an image of a man who could have important information relating to a sexual assault in Milton Keynes.
The incident happened between 7.15pm and 7.25pm on the number seven bus from Downs Barn on Saturday, 8 June.
A man approached the victim, a woman aged in her thirties, and sexually assaulted her.
The man got off the bus around Great Linford.
Thames Valley Police have released an image of a man they wish to speak to as part of their appeal for more information into the incident.
Investigating officer, PC Alister Milne, based at Milton Keynes police station, said: “We are appealing for the man in this picture, or anyone who knows him, to come forward, as we think he could have important information about this incident.
“If you are this man, or if you know him, please contact us on 101, quoting reference number 43240271627.
“Alternatively, you can make a report online, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
