(UK) Bath/NE Somerset: 19% of students have special needs; plans for 120 place special school

June 25, 2026, Better support for children with special educational needs and learning disabilities before B&NES cabinet | Newsroom | Bath & North East Somerset Council

Young people, parents, carers, health and education partners across Bath and North East Somerset have helped shape a new plan that aims to improve support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), ensuring their voices and experiences are at the heart of future services.

The Local SEND Reform Plan, developed by a partnership convened by Bath & North East Somerset Council, sets out how support will continue to improve so every child and young person can achieve, belong and thrive. The plan which is submitted to the Department for Education as part of the Government’s national improvement programme, will be considered by the council’s Cabinet on 2 July . 

The plan responds to growing demand, with around 18.8% of pupils in local schools identified as needing SEND support in 2025 – slightly above the national average. It focuses on strengthening early identification and intervention, building inclusive practice in every school, improving access to specialist support and places, and making the system easier and more consistent for families to navigate.

It builds on work already underway through Our Plan for SEND, published in 2025, including expanding special school provision, improving inclusion in mainstream education and increasing the quality and efficiency of services. Recent milestones include proposals for a new 120-place special free school at the Culverhay site in Bath and the start of work on a new SEND resource base at Mulberry Park Primary School. . . .