(UK) Bolton: $3.2M to expand two special schools
- Apr 13
- 2 min read
April 12, 2026, Over £2.4m [$3.2M] of expansions to two Bolton SEND schools approved
More than £2.4m [$3.2M] of expansions to two Bolton SEND (Special Educational Needs and disabilities) schools have been approved by the council.
The proposals are for 'temporary' expansions at Rumworth and Mytham Special Schools, creating 46 new SEND places in total at a combined cost of £2.43m.
These extra SEND places will become available in September 2026.
Council officer Paul Rankin stated: "As members will be aware, the reason we are adding additional capacity to our special schools is to stop children being transported to provision outside of Bolton at much increased cost." Staff and pupils at Rumworth Special School. . . .
Executive Cabinet Member for Children's Services, Councillor Martin Donaghy, then approved the £800,000 Rumworth expansion scheme.
Mr Rankin then presented the Firwood Special School expansion plans to the meeting, which will create 30 new SEND places for a combined cost of £1.63m.
This will only be a temporary position, as once the Firwood Sixth Form is built in the Jubilee Centre the temporary capacity will no longer be needed.
Cllr Charlotte Moncado-Sears asked whether the 30 extra places are needed straight away, and whether they will be needed in five year's time after the Firwood Jubilee Centre expansion is built. Potential SEND expansion at Firwood Special School (Image: Bolton Council)
Mr Rankin said: "We're creating the capacity this year because the places are needed this year, we can't get away from that.
"If we didn't create the capacity, we would be sending those children out of the borough.
"In terms of five years' time, we know the demand for SEND is increasing, and we're working to plan out what capacity we need where and how that's going to work for the next five, ten years, and longer. . . .
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