(UK) Glos: $7M for 40 more special needs SEMH, MLD, SLCN places

Dec 8, 2025,  Bristol Post: Huge investment in three schools for pupils with special educational needs

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/huge-investment-three-schools-pupils-10692544

Resource Bases are facilities within schools where children can receive extra help and support from specialist staff

Almost £5million [$7M] is set to be invested into 40 new school places for children with special needs. Three new Resource Bases are planned for South Gloucestershire schools, to increase the number of places in mainstream schools for children with additional needs.

Resource Bases are facilities within schools where children can receive extra help and support from specialist staff. The proposals include two 10-place facilities added to Coniston Primary School in Patchway and Tyndale Primary School in Yate, as well as a 20-place Resource Base at Mangotsfield Secondary School in Emersons Green.

The focus of the new places will be to support children with social emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, and for pupils with moderate learning difficulties (MLD) and/or speech language and communication needs (SLCN).

The proposals are being presented to South Gloucestershire Council cabinet today (Monday, December 8) to agree to add the projects to the capital programme, which is designed to help the council and schools in the district better meet the needs of all children, in high quality schools and educational placements in their local area.  . . .

 “The specialist staff who work in resource bases also help support the wider schools they are part of, improving outcomes for SEN pupils across the school.”

Once agreed, these projects will be taken forward with the aim for the new places to be available for children from the 2027/28 academic year. All proposals will be subject to consultations with the local community, to ensure that parents and carers have opportunity to share their views on the plans, so that we can deliver excellent quality provision tailored to meeting the needs of children and their families. . . .