The Department for Education has announced 10,000 new places for children with special education needs and disability (SEND) to support children and young people at schools close to their homes and families.
The £740 million investment will deliver adaptations, expand specialist units in mainstream schools, and create new places in special schools.
New data shows a gap of 8,000 places in state secondary special schools and that fewer than one in 10 mainstream schools have SEN units or resourced provision, which are specialist facilities that provide more intensive support for pupils with SEND.
In addition, between 2010 and 2024, the number of children with education health and care plans (EHCPs) or their previous equivalents being educated in independent special schools increased from 7,000 to 26,000.
Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary, said: “As part of our Plan for Change, we want every family to have access to a good local school for their child, breaking the link between children’s background and their opportunities in life.
“This investment is a big step towards delivering not only enough school places, but the right school places, supporting all children and particularly those with SEND, and plugging the significant gaps in provision we inherited.”
In line with new guidance published today, over the coming years, local authorities can use their capital funding for children with SEND to create places in local, mainstream schools, ending the desperate battle to find a place that meets families’ needs.
Amanda Allard, Director at the Council for Disabled Children, National Children’s Bureau, said: “We welcome the announcement on how this investment can be used and the focus on Local Authorities supporting schools to ensure that disabled children and young people, and those with special educational needs, can have their needs met in inclusive local schools.
“We know from our work with local areas, and through the What Works in SEND programme, that there is some very effective practice across the country, and we encourage local areas to share and learn from this as they develop inclusive provision which enables children and young people to learn, develop friendships and be part of their community.”
