Consultation on expanding places in SEND schools

Residents should be asked for their views on the expansion of special education and disability (SEND) provision in four schools.

In two centers in Gosport, one in Eastleigh and the other in Blackfield, the number of SEND places has increased by 58 for children on education, health and care plans (EHCP).

They would be created by renovating facilities and combining services.

Hampshire County Council’s cabinet member for education, Steve Forster, welcomed the plan, saying it “builds” on previous decisions to increase SEND provision.

As of July 2024, Hampshire County Council operated 17,002 EHCPs, which detail the additional support a child needs.

Last year the council said it had extended provision to all state schools, creating additional places for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASC), social, language and communication needs (SLCN) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH). requirements.

Around 42 new spaces will be created at Bedenham Primary School and Holbrook Primary School, both in Gosport.

In Bedenham, the extra room will come from the refurbishment of an additional classroom, while Holbrook will increase ASC’s provision by combining SLCN’s provision into one resource.

From September 2025, Cherbourg Primary School in Eastleigh will be able to accommodate an additional four children with SEMH.

The council will also work with Inspire Learning Partnership Academy Trust to provide places for 12 new pupils at Blackfield Primary School from September 2025.

The council’s education leader, Forster, said it was “such an important area to ensure specialist places are available”.

“I’m really pleased that we’ve responded to the lack of interest in SLCN places, and moving this number of places to autism spectrum centers is really good news,” he said.

There will be a four-week statutory consultation on the proposals for Bedenham, Holbrook and Cherbourg, while Blackfield, as an academy, will take its own action.