(UK) Tongham: Elem school to open autism unit for 25 students; 'rising demand'

Jan 28, 2026, BBC News: School set to open special unit for autistic pupils

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8e58n0ex1do 

A primary school is planning to open a specialist unit for autistic children amid a growing shortage of local special needs places.

Surrey County Council's cabinet member for children Jonathan Hulley signed off the proposal on Tuesday for St Paul's Church of England Primary School, in Tongham.

The school is in line to get a dedicated classroom for up to 25 pupils aged four to 11 from September.

Hulley said: "The plan addresses rising demand, it reduces the reliance on independent school provision and it supports local education."

All pupils placed in the unit would have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) confirming they need that level of provision.

The plans would not reduce mainstream places at the school, where a temporary class for autistic children is already operating.

Council figures show Surrey's existing specialist provision is 92% occupied.

Without new local spaces, the local authority said it would rely on independent schools, where one annual place could cost over £50,000 [$69,000] per child.

A place in a council-run specialist setting costs about £23,000 [$32,000] a year, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. . . .