(UK) Essex: SPED school nearly doubles in size; increase in autism cited

Aug 26, 2018,Essex Gazette: SEND school places to nearly double at Lexden Springs http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/16591544.send-school-places-to-nearly-double-at-lexden-springs/ Capacity at the Colchester school, in Halstead Road, will rise from 120 to 200 pupils after its £18.8 million ($24M US dollars) overhaul…. Lexden Springs’ expansion is part of the authority’s plans to spend up to £115 million ($148M US dollars) on creating more than 400 new SEND places across Essex. The record investment, which includes £42 million ($55M US dollars) from the Essex Schools Forum, comes after an increase in the number of children in the county being diagnosed with autism, and a surge in demand for SEND places….