Gloucestershire County Council's planning committee approved plans on 19 March for a £20 million special school in Cheltenham, creating 200 places for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

The all-through school will serve pupils aged 4–16 with Complex Learning Difficulties (CLD), including autism and associated communication and interaction needs.

The school will be built on council-owned land to the west of Alstone Croft, accessed via Arle Road, on a former playing field previously used by the now-closed St Benedict’s Catholic School. It is expected to open in January 2028.

Demand for specialist places is rising locally and nationally, with the greatest pressure in the Gloucester and Cheltenham areas. The Cheltenham scheme forms part of a wider programme to expand SEND provision across Gloucestershire.

-- Advertisement --

A separate £19.5 million, 200-place special school in Gloucester is due to open in January 2027. This follows the opening of Brook Academy, a £9.75 million 80-place secondary special school, and Sladewood Academy, a 60-place primary special school, which opened in 2022 and 2023 respectively.

Over recent years, the council has also invested £2.7 million to expand existing special schools and create additional places. Despite this, demand continues to exceed capacity, meaning some pupils currently travel out of county or attend independent provision.

The council is also investing £2.7 million in SEND services to address growing demand for Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) needs assessments and to ensure children receive the right support at the right time.

Most children with SEND, including those with EHCPs, are successfully supported in mainstream schools. The council is working with schools to strengthen inclusive practice, expand resource bases and SEN units, and improve access to early help through the graduated pathway, while making the EHCP process more efficient and timelier for families.

The new school will be run by Enable Trust, which has extensive experience supporting children and young people with complex SEND needs in the local area.