SEND expansion worth £6.5m replaces new school plan

A council will put £6.5m towards expanding its provision for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) instead of building a new school.

Central Bedfordshire Council accepted a funding offer from the Department for Education (DfE) after the government paused the development of a school for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs in Biggleswade.

According to the authority, continuing with the new school plan would have taken too much time, as it would have had to re-enter the national approval process and identify a new site or sponsor.

The council said the funding will allow it to bring projects forward more quickly in more than one location.

Funding will be allocated over a three-year period, with the first payment due in summer 2026.

It said the same amount of places initially planned for the school proposal will still be delivered, achieved by adapting buildings and expanding provisions in existing schools.

Executive member for children's services, Gareth Mackey, said: "This is about making sure children and young people with SEND get the support they need, when they need it.

"By securing this funding, we can move forward with a more flexible and locally responsive approach that delivers provision faster and closer to home."

The government is expected to outline its plan to overhaul the SEND system in the coming weeks.

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