(UK) Bradford: 21% increase in SPED plans in 18mos; hundreds of places being planned
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HUNDREDS of new specialist education places are being planned for children with additional needs.
Bradford Council is aiming to expand its Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision to meet rising demand across the district.
The council says it is committed to improving support for children and young people, while also ensuring there are enough school and childcare places for families in the years ahead.
In July 2026, 9,064 children and young people aged 0-25 in the Bradford district had an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP)—a 21 per cent rise in just 18 months.
Councillor Sally Birch, Bradford Council’s executive member for children and families, said: "Every child deserves the chance to do well.
"We’re creating hundreds of new SEND places so more children can get the support they need closer to home.
"We’re also planning ahead to make sure there are enough school and childcare places for local families in the years to come."
Since 2025, the council has created 236 specialist and alternative provision places, with a further 296 planned
This expansion is part of a £25.2 million [$34M] government-funded programme designed to increase SEND provision across the district.
The programme includes expanding specialist provision in mainstream schools, increasing the number of resourced provision places, and developing new facilities linked to existing special schools.
Former council-owned buildings are also being converted into specialist learning facilities.
The council says this will help meet demand, reduce the need for out-of-district placements, and ensure more children receive support closer to home.
The report also details efforts to increase school and childcare capacity across Bradford.
Since the introduction of expanded government-funded childcare support in 2024, around 1,000 additional childcare places have been taken up, providing families with an extra 650,000 hours of funded early education.
More than 2,000 wraparound childcare places have also been created for primary school-aged children, offering families additional support before and after the school day.
The council is also monitoring shifting population trends.
Birth rates across the district have dropped by around 1,000 per year since 2015, reducing the demand for primary school places.
In response, the council is working closely with schools and academy trusts to manage these changes while ensuring that sufficient places remain available for all children.
The report will be considered by Bradford Council’s Executive when it meets on Tuesday, September 8.
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