Surrey Council Unveils 230 New Specialist School Places for 2023
Surrey County Council has announced a major boost for children with additional needs and disabilities (AND) – 230 new specialist school places will be ready by September 2023. This expansion aims to bring high-quality education closer to home for Surrey families.
£260 Million Programme Drives Massive School Expansion
The new places come as part of a £260 million Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision Capital Programme. Since 2019, the Council has been transforming schools via 40 construction projects, including enlarging specialist schools, building new free schools, and adding SEN units to mainstream schools.
- This year alone, Surrey has added around 917 specialist places, with a £41 million investment.
- Specialist education capacity has skyrocketed from 3,320 places in 2019 to more than 4,200 today.
- By 2030/31, Surrey aims to provide 5,760 specialist school places countywide.
Local Communities to Benefit from New SEN Facilities
Clare Curran, Surrey’s Cabinet Member for Families and Lifelong Learning, said:
“The location of these new school places means that Surrey families will have high-quality specialist school provision close to where they are, enabling children and young people with additional needs and disabilities to achieve healthy, independent, and fulfilling lives.”
She added the enhancements are part of a long-term plan to meet community needs now and in the future.
What’s Next? More Schools and Units on the Horizon
Looking ahead, the Council is set to complete seven more projects during the 2023/24 spring term. Next year, 2024/25, will see:
- Extensions to existing specialist schools
- A new specialist free school for autistic children
- Two new secondary-age SEN units in mainstream schools
These developments will add around 240 places for September 2024, with further increases rolled out through 2028. Surrey County Council’s drive ensures specialist education grows hand-in-hand with staff training and community collaboration.
