(UK) W. Sussex: Council says $15M to expand SPED isn't enough; $40M needed
- The end of childhood
- Jan 2
- 2 min read
Dec 27, 2025, Argus: West Sussex council says SEND funding 'falls far short'
A council has said an offer of more than £11 million to create new placements for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)"falls far short".
West Sussex County Council said it has been offered £11.34 million [$15M] to expand SEND capacity within existing schools, following the Department for Education’s (DFE) decision to cancel two special free schools for West Sussex.
The funding includes £7.02 million [$9.5M] in lieu of the proposed Beckmead Wealden Academy and £4.32 million [$5.82] in lieu of the proposed Kithurst Academy.
The Wealden Academy had been envisaged as a specialist school situated near Worthing, with space for 80 pupils in Key Stages 2 to 4.
Plans for Kithurst Academy would have seen it built as an alternative provision in Crawley for 120 pupils in Key Stages 3 and 4.
If the council chooses not to accept the funding, the alternative option would be to wait for a future DfE programme to build the two special free schools.
However, this is not expected to launch until after 2030 and would not be guaranteed due to potential changes in government policy and the potential for a change in government before then.
A council spokesman said: "It is important to clarify that this funding is not for building new schools, but for expanding SEND capacity within existing schools and creating new specialist support centres (SSCs). This will help us provide additional places for children and young people with SEND across West Sussex.
"Recent experience shows that providing around 100 special school places costs approximately £30 million [$40M]. By comparison, the £11.34 million offered falls far short of the funding required to build two new schools, each designed to accommodate several hundred pupils."
The council added that it would be liaising with the DfE and Beckmead Academy Trust before any decision is made to accept the funding.
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