Wiltshire and Hampshire to get new SEND free schools
Our counties are among 33 areas to get Government support
Last updated 3rd Mar 2023
More school places are be made available in Wiltshire and Hampshire for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
The Department for Education says it will build 33 special free schools across England to provide the specialist places.
Hampshire and Wiltshire are each due to get one of the sites.
The Government says it’s significantly increasing investment into children and young people with SEND by 50% compared with 2019-20 - to over £10 billion by 2023-24.
Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, Claire Coutinho said:
“Parents know that their children only get one shot at education and this can have an enormous impact on their child’s ability to get on with life. Yet for some parents of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, getting their child that superb education that everyone deserves can feel like a full-time job.
“The Improvement Plan that we are publishing today sets out systemic reforms to standards, teacher training and access to specialists as well as thousands of new places at specialist schools so that every child gets the help they need.”
There's no word yet on where the schools might be based in Wiltshire and Hampshire.
Wiltshire Council say the 'location is yet to be determined, and will be shared as plans progress'.
Cllr Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills said:
“Every child and young person deserves their school to be a place where they can learn and thrive. Wiltshire Council is committed to having the right specialist support for pupils with SEND so they can enjoy their time at school, and this is good news for our Wiltshire children.”
Cllr Jane Davies, Cabinet Member for SEND said:
“We already have allotted significant investment to creating extra SEND places but this DfE commitment to building a new school for SEND pupils is a very welcome addition and will help address the need for SEMH provision. We will be sharing more news with parents and carers as plans move forward.”
The funding for them comes alongside a package of measures aimed at improving provision for SEND families, and boosting training for staff and the education sector.
Minister for learning disabilities and autism, Maria Caulfield said:
“Everyone with special educational needs and disabilities deserves to live a happy, healthy and productive life – but we know there are often barriers to accessing the right support, especially for parents navigating the start of their children’s educational experiences.
“It is vital that health, care and education are working together properly from day one for people with additional needs, which is why we’re making sure steps are being taken to better join up the system and provide support more readily for children and young people with special educational needs and for their families.”
Children’s Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza said:
"Children with SEND and their families have, for too long, felt penalised by a system that doesn’t support their needs.
“I am particularly pleased to see this plan’s focus on early help, which will prevent families from reaching breaking point, and the increase in specialist school places so that many more children are able to attend a great school, every day.
“I have called for children’s voices to be at the heart of this plan, so I am encouraged by the move to make EHC Plans digital, standardised, and more focused on what each child wants.
“Our focus must now be on delivering these reforms, in tandem with those for children’s social care, and matching the ambition that children have for themselves.”