(UK) Lancs: Council to add hundreds of special needs places to mainstream, special schools
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Feb 12, 2026, Lancashire.gov: Major boost to Lancs SEND provision discussed by councilors
Plans to expand special needs provision have been considered by Lancashire County Councillors.
The County Council's cabinet members looked at the SEND Capital Plan for 2026/27 at their meeting on the 5th February, which sets out plans to increase SEND provision for children and young people with SEND across the county.
It aims to ensure efficient education places are available for children and young people with SEND, and as close to home as possible,
It follows detailed analysis, engagement and feedback in the wake of a critical inspection last year, as part of the SEND Strategy and the Priority Action Plan, and a rapid turnaround in SEND efficiency since May.
It means that a range of provision such as new special schools, expansions of existing sites and post 19 settings, and more SEND units across Lancashire could be in the pipeline in future.
They include proposals for:
New SEND units which could offer up to 100 SEND places in mainstream secondary schools in Lancaster, Wyre, West Lancashire, Chorley and Burnley.
Two new special schools in East Lancashire which could see 140 new SEND places.
Up to 100 new SEND places due to the expansion of three special schools including Kirkham Pear Tree special school in Fylde, Mayfield special school in Chorley and White Ash special school in Hyndburn.
40 new Post 19 SEND places on the site of Sir Tom Finney Special School Preston.
New purpose-built accommodation at Valley College for post 19 learners, who are currently based on Tor View School site.
Funding will come from the DfE's high Needs Provision Capital Allocation (HNPCA), a government grant for supporting places for children and young people with SEND. With £4.5m [$6.1M] of the existing Lancashire allocation already funding current projects, it's estimated that the proposed new batch would cost a total of £30m [$41M], subject to feedback from formal consultation and costings.
At the meeting, councillors approved the start of a consultation process, with the proposals returning for final consideration by cabinet in July this year. If approved, it's hoped all the new provision will be up and running by late 2028.
Meanwhile, schools and nurseries across the 12 Lancashire districts will also be able to bid for a slice of £2m [$2.7M] from the DfE's HNPCA fund for Lancashire, aimed at funding infrastructure improvements to support mainstream settings. . . .
"I am pleased that serious investments will be made to improve inclusion and better meet the needs of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. We want to build much needed capacity across Lancashire, with funding for SEND units and opportunities for mainstream schools and maintained nurseries to improve inclusion, and increasing special school provision through expansions and new schools to serve Lancashire children. This is all based on a thorough analysis of the needs within Lancashire and a clear strategy to meet those needs. . . .
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