Public Consultation on Increasing Special Educational Needs and Disabilities School Provisions

A public consultation is scheduled to gather opinions regarding the proposed expansion of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provisions across four educational institutions. This initiative could result in an additional 58 SEND places for children holding education, health and care plans (EHCPs), distributed among two locations in Gosport, one in Eastleigh, and one in Blackfield. These new provisions are planned to be established through facility renovations and the consolidation of existing services. Steve Forster, Hampshire County Council’s cabinet member for education, expressed approval for the proposal, stating it “built” on prior resolutions aimed at enhancing SEND provision. Data from July 2024 indicates that Hampshire County Council was overseeing 17,002 EHCPs, which outline the specific additional support required by a child. Over the preceding year, the council reported having expanded provisions throughout all state schools, thereby generating more places for children with autistic spectrum condition (ASC), social, language and communication needs (SLCN), and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs. A total of 42 new spaces are slated for creation at Bedenham Primary School and Holbrook Primary School, both situated in Gosport. At Bedenham, the additional capacity will be achieved by refurbishing an unused classroom. Meanwhile, Holbrook intends to expand its ASC provisions by integrating the SLCN provision into a unified resource. Cherbourg Primary School in Eastleigh is set to accommodate an additional four children with SEMH requirements, commencing in September 2025. Concurrently, the council plans to collaborate with Inspire Learning Partnership Academy Trust to establish spaces for 12 new students at Blackfield Primary School, also effective from September 2025. Education council leader Forster commented that it was “such an important area to ensure those specialist places are provided.” He further added, “I’m really pleased that we’ve been responsive to the lack of take-up on the SLCN places, and shifting that capacity to autistic spectrum conditions is really good news.” A four-week statutory consultation will be conducted concerning the proposals for Bedenham, Holbrook, and Cherbourg. Blackfield, operating as an academy, will manage its own consultation process.