The move comes as Hampshire continues to experience sharp growth in the number of pupils requiring support through an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). As of December 2025, 20,555 children and young people in the county have an EHCP – up from 17,234 in September 2024. Around 40 per cent of these pupils require specialist provision, either in a special school or a resourced provision within a mainstream school.
Following today’s Decision Day (Wednesday 21 January), the Executive Member for Education, Councillor Steve Forster, said: “By creating these 157 extra specialist places in our schools, we are promoting inclusivity in mainstream education where possible and investing in the future of all our children and young people, regardless of their challenges.
“These approvals mark a significant step forward towards ensuring that every child in Hampshire receives the support they need and takes us closer towards the Council’s ambition of establishing 1000 new specialist places by 2030.”
Projects are subject to planning permission where appropriate and agreement of the capital programme.
New and expanded SEND provision receiving spend approval today includes:
- Hamble School – New resourced provision for pupils with autism
A dedicated resourced provision is a specialist environment supporting pupils with complex needs in a mainstream setting. This £1.11 million project, due to open in phases from September 2026, will deliver a fully equipped double modular building for up to 15 pupils aged 11 to 16. - Wyvern College, Fair Oak – Refurbishment and remodelling
A £1.2 million project to convert surplus first floor space within the art block to create essential SEND support accommodation. Works will take place during spring and summer 2026 and will complete ahead of the new academic year in September. - Wavell School, Farnborough – New SEMH resourced provision
A new adapted double modular building costing £940,000 to provide specialist accommodation for up to 15 pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, opening in phases from September 2026.
Final approval was also given to establishing a resourced provision at Hamble Primary School for 12 pupils with autism using existing surplus accommodation, to open in September 2026.
Following a positive informal consultation period, Councillor Forster also approved plans to undertake a statutory consultation on the expansion of The Waterloo School, Havant, by creating a new satellite site at the former Peel Common Infant School in Gosport. If ultimately agreed, the expansion would create 70 additional specialist SEMH places opening in phases from September 2027, reducing reliance on independent placements and cutting down travel times for children requiring intensive support.
Meanwhile, plans were also approved to move forward with statutory consultations for new autism specific resourced provisions at three mainstream schools, set to open in phases from September 2026:
- Crofton Dale Junior School, Fareham – 12 places (ages 7 to 11)
- Fair Oak Infant School, Eastleigh – 9 places (ages 4 to 7)
- Poulner Junior School, New Forest – 12 places (ages 7 to 11).
A statutory consultation will also take place on establishing a resourced provision for pupils with SEMH needs at:
- Hiltingbury Junior School, Eastleigh – 12 places (ages 7 to 11), to open in phases from January 2027.