Lancashire County prepares £57m SEND boost

Proposals for two new schools, the expansion of four others, and the development of five specialist units for mainstream secondary schools were given an initial green light by the county council, with consultations to begin in March and April.

If all of the business cases are approved by Lancashire County Council’s cabinet later this year, there could be an additional 310 spaces available for SEND students in the county starting from September 2027, followed by 70 more in September 2028.

The increase in SEND spaces is part of the county council’s £57m SEND Capital Plan, which is due to take place over the next three years. The strategy seeks to get out ahead of an increasing population in students with education, health, and care plans.

There are currently 12,202 young people with EHCPs in the county and another 1,850 EHCP assessments overdue, according to a county council report. Over the past 10 years, the number of young people with EHCPs has increased by 134%.

Should that trajectory continue, these plans would help ensure the need for educational spaces is met.

The two new schools would be created in the eastern part of the county, with Rossendale highlighted as being especially in need of these services.

One of the schools, thought to be a new-build, would be for 70 students with social, emotional, and mental health needs between the ages of nine and 18. This facility could open in September 2028 on a currently vacant school site owned by the county council in Hyndburn. There is no current SEMH provision in the county, according to the report.

The second new school, pencilled in for an undisclosed existing building, would specialise in educating those with autism. It would provide 70 spaces for those aged nine to 18 who require GCS and A-level curriculum. This could open in September 2027, according to the report.

The schools to be expanded to provide additional spaces would be Kirkham Pear Tree Special School in Fylde, Mayfield Special School in Chorley, and White Ash Special School in Hyndburn. Kirkham Pear Tree and Mayfield could each have 30 spaces added, while White Ash could get an additional 40. The target opening for these expansions would be September 2027.

Sir Tom Finney Special School in Preston could also be expanded to include a 40-space-strong post-19 specialist college.

The final project to be consulted on would be the creation of SEND specialist units at five mainstream secondary schools. These units would each offer 20 spaces for those with speech, language, and communication needs. The county council is envisioning adding these to schools ins West Lancashire, Wyre, Lancaster, Chorley, and Burnley.

After the consultations this spring, a meeting of the county council’s cabinet will be had to discuss the results of the consultation as well as projected costs. That meeting will decide whether or not the projects continue towards completion.