(UK) Hants: $500K for more SPED places; plans for 1,000 places more by 2030

June 28, 2025, Basingstoke Gazette: Hampshire County Council: SEND provision to expand at two schools

S. England

An extra 18 special educational needs and disabilities places in two Hampshire schools have been approved to increase the special provision at county council schools.

The decision forms part of the Hampshire County Council’s strategy to reduce the cost of these placements within independent and non-maintained schools.

Councillor Steve Forster, Hampshire County Council’s cabinet member for education, approved the expansion of the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Gosport and the New Forest.

With the approvals, a new resource provision at Newtown Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School in Gosport for 10 pupils aged four to 11 with Autism Spectrum Conditions is set to open in phases from September 2025.

At Ashley Infant School in New Milton, the existing resourced provision will be expanded by eight places. This will bring the total to 15 places for pupils with autism spectrum conditions and 17 places for pupils with speech, language, and communication needs. The expansion is scheduled to take place in September 2025, catering to children aged 4 to 7.

The county council indicated that if these places were to be provided in the private sector, the cost would reach an estimated £1.269 million, compared with the £358,147 [$490K] that the council will invest in creating these places in mainstream schools.

Councillor Forster said: “The new places I have approved today form part of that overall commitment, ensuring that local provision continues to meet local needs and taking us one step closer to our goal of 1,000 new SEND places in Hampshire by 2030.  

“Investing in places for children with SEND within our own schools, including mainstream settings, reduces our reliance on independent specialist provision, which is far more costly and often much further away from children’s homes. Growing our own provision means more children will have their needs successfully met in their local communities and alongside their peers.”

On his decision day, Cllr Forster also approved entering into public consultation for an additional 57 SEND places at five schools in Dibden Purlieu, Aldershot, Waterlooville, and Andover.

Public Notices will now be published on the county council’s website, allowing local families, residents and others interested in the proposals to share their feedback between June 27 and July 25.