Somerset Council is set to enhance special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision at four schools in the county, aiming to better support children with EHCPs (education, health and care plans).
Currently, children with SEND are educated either at specialist schools or within mainstream schools following agreed EHCPs. However, Somerset has faced challenges as specialist schools operate at full capacity, and the number of young people requiring SEND support continues to rise. This demand has also led to increased transport costs when sending children to distant specialist providers and delays in timely reviews of EHCPs, which have sparked complaints to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
In response, the council decided in March 2025 to create 15 new SEND units within existing mainstream schools, increasing local availability of specialist support and allowing more children to receive education closer to home.
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The current consultation focuses on four key sites proposing new classrooms, specialist units, and capacity improvements:
- Polden Bower School in Bridgwater plans to build four classrooms to add 32 places, increasing total capacity to 248 pupils.
- Somerset Bridge Primary School in Bridgwater will provide an additional 16 “satellite provision” places, expected to start as soon as September.
- Holway Park Community Primary School in Taunton will expand its SEND unit from 40 to 50 places starting September, balancing this increase with a slight reduction in mainstream pupil numbers due to a falling birth rate, keeping overall capacity stable.
- Hindhayes Infant School in Street will open a new intensive SEND unit for 6-8 pupils with EHCPs in September.
- Oaklands Primary School in Yeovil will expand its Oaklands Centre from 14 to 32 places by September 2027.
The council invites pupils, parents, carers, staff, and local residents to give feedback on these proposals by July 10 through the online consultation portal at www.somersetcouncil.citizenspace.com. A spokesperson emphasized the importance of community input to understand the benefits and any concerns related to the plans.
Funding for all projects comes from a £9.3 million allocation from the Department for Education in 2026/27, targeted specifically for SEND capital provision.
These ambitious expansions aim to ease existing pressures, reduce transport burdens, and enhance local access to specialist education and support for Somerset’s children with special needs.