Our New Building Project: Essential for SEND Provision

Grove Cottage is taking a significant step forward with its new build project, addressing the growing demand for quality support and resources for individuals with learning disabilities and special additional needs (SEND) in Bishop’s Stortford. As the town experiences rapid growth in housing and population, this new facility is essential to ensuring that Grove Cottage can continue to meet the community’s evolving needs.

The Growing Need for Support

Across the country, schools are struggling with insufficient funding and too few spaces for children who need extra help. Our town’s growing population means more children and adults need the kind of support that Grove Cottage provides. Reports show that children with special needs often face long waits for assessments and adequate support.

Grove Cottage’s Unique Role

That’s where Grove Cottage steps in—we are the only local organisation that offers crucial support from the early years through adulthood as well as respite for families. We help children from a very young age, even before they get an official diagnosis, and we stick with them through their school years and beyond. Our after-school clubs and weekend activities provide a safe, fun, and inclusive environment for our members.

The Impact of Population Growth

Bishop’s Stortford is expanding fast, with new housing estates bringing in more families. This could mean up to 200 more families needing our support. Since 2017, there’s been a huge increase in the number of children needing Educational and Health Care Plans (EHCPs) in our area—up by 32%. This makes our new building project even more important. We need more space and better facilities to keep helping everyone who needs us.

Community Feedback

In a recent survey, 86% of families told us they need more help. This new building will help us meet those needs.

A Decade in the Making

Richard Smith, Grove Cottage’s Treasurer, says, “We’ve been planning this for 10 years. We’ve thought it through carefully while raising funds in the background. This new building is a big step forward, and it’s going to help us support our community even better.”

Commitment to the Future

Grove Cottage’s new building project is about making sure we can keep up with the growing needs of our town. We’re committed to helping everyone with learning disabilities and special additional needs live better lives. With this new building, we can make sure we’re here for our community for many years to come.

Grove Cottage: A Better Building for a Brighter Future.

For more information please visit: Grove Cottage: A Better Building for a Brighter Future.

Or head to the Bishop’s Stortford Indepedent news article: Why Grove Cottage needs to make a big step to keep pace with demand for its support in Bishop’s Stortford

* The area: Herts County Council DSPL Area 3, covering Bishop’s Stortford, Hertford and Ware and the rural areas around Buntingford