(UK) Warks: Council spends $429K to expand SPED in 3 elem schools

Mar 5, 2026,  Investment approved to expand specialist provision in Warwickshire schools - Warwickshire County Council

WCC's Cabinet has approved additions to the Education Capital Programme to expand specialist resourced provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

At its meeting on Thursday 5 March, Cabinet agreed to allocate over £320k [$429K]  from the High Needs Provision Capital Allocation to establish new resourced provisions at three county primary schools and to increase places at an existing provision in Rugby. 

The approved schemes will see: 

A new 10-place resourced provision for pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) whose primary needs are communication and interaction

(C&I) established at Binley Woods Primary School, supported by £118k [$158K] of capital funding. 

A new 8-place Communication and Interaction resourced provision at Brownsover Community School, supported by £87k [$117K] of capital funding. 

Subject to Department for Education approval of a required ‘significant change’ application, a new 8-place Communication and Interaction resourced provision at St Oswald’s CofE Academy, supported by £116k [$156K]of capital funding. 

An immediate increase of two places at the existing Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) resourced provision at Paddox Primary School, raising capacity from 14 to 16 places. 

The investment forms part of the council’s statutory duty under the Education Act 1996 to ensure sufficient school places, including specialist provision, and supports the ambitions set out in the Warwickshire Education Sufficiency Strategy 2024 - 2029 and the SEND and Inclusion Strategy 2024 - 2029. 

Demand for specialist provision continues to grow, with the number of pupils with EHCPs in Warwickshire increasing by 9 % annually over the past five years, in line with national trends. The council is working to increase the number of resourced provision places to more than 500 by 2028. . . .

Councillor Stephen Shaw, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Property at Warwickshire County Council, said: “This targeted investment of £321k [$430K] demonstrates our continued commitment to using capital funding responsibly and strategically to meet growing demand for specialist provision. 

“By expanding resourced provision within existing school sites, we are making effective use of our assets, ensuring value for money and helping to reduce longer-term pressures on the High Needs budget, including transport costs, while delivering improved local access for families.”