UK councils plan multiple special needs school expansions increasing hundreds of places

Several UK councils are undertaking significant expansions of schools catering to children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Peterborough City Council plans to add 16 spaces to Heltwate School, including new classrooms and facilities, to meet rising demand for specialist placements amid a city-wide deficit. Surrey County Council approved expanding Woodlands School by creating a satellite site at Cranmere Primary, adding up to 28 places for children with severe learning difficulties and autism, aiming to reduce reliance on costly independent sector placements. Similarly, West Sussex County Council seeks public feedback on proposals to establish a specialist support centre at Buckingham Park School and expand SEND places at Palatine Primary by utilizing a former school site. Meanwhile, The Unicorn School in Abingdon opened a new building funded partly by a £150,000 grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation, marking the first phase of an expansion that will double its capacity for pupils with dyslexia, dyspraxia, and speech and language needs. These initiatives reflect a broader effort to address growing demand for specialized education services and improve local provision, thereby supporting families and reducing financial pressures on councils.