Councillor Steve Forster, the authority’s Executive Member for Education, today fully approved 78 new specialist places at six schools, including at two special schools, while also agreeing to consult on an additional 88 places at a further eight schools.
The plans form part of the County Council’s ongoing response to growing demand for specialist educational provision across Hampshire and aim to ensure that children with SEND can access high-quality education within their local communities.
Councillor Forster commented: “Hampshire, like many local authorities nationally, continues to see growing demand for specialist school places and shortfalls in national funding, often resulting in pupils with SEND being placed in independent and non-maintained schools to fulfil the County Council's statutory obligations.
“These proposals are part of our ambitions to meet more pupils' needs closer to home, reduce our reliance on independent schools, and cut down on transport costs with a target to deliver 1000 new specialist SEND places in Hampshire schools by 2030. I am very pleased to add to the growing list of schools set to support more of our pupils with special needs over the next two years.”
The latest schools to join the county-wide SEND expansion programme are:
New Forest
• Bartley Junior School, New Forest: Provision for 12 pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, opening in phases from September 2025
Havant
• Crookhorn College, Havant: Provision for 15 pupils with Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC), opening in phases from September 2025
Hart
• Fleet Infant School, Fleet: Provision for 9 pupils with ASC, opening in phases from September 2025
• Velmead Junior School, Fleet: Provision for 12 pupils with ASC, opening in phases from September 2025
East Hampshire
• Hollywater School, Bordon (special school): Additional 20 places for pupils with Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD), opening in phases from September 2025
Basingstoke
• Maple Ridge School, Basingstoke (special school): Additional 10 places for pupils with SLD from September 2025
Details of further plans which will now be consulted on are available on the County Council’s website.
These initiatives come as more than 17,700 pupils in Hampshire have Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), which outline the specialist support they require to meet their needs in education – approximately 40 per cent of these pupils may require a specialist school place. The number of EHCPs maintained by Hampshire County Council is forecast to rise to 28,000 by 2030.