Special Educational Needs: South Basildon and East Thurrock
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of SEND spaces needed in South Basildon and East Thurrock to meet forecast demand.
Answered by Georgia Gould
The statutory duty to provide sufficient school places, including for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), sits with local authorities. To support local authorities with this duty, in December, the department announced at least £3 billion for high needs capital between 2026/27 and 2029/30, to support children and young people with SEND or who require alternative provision. This builds on the £740 million invested in 2025/26, which is on track to create around 10,000 new specialist places. Of this funding, Thurrock council has been allocated just under £2 million, and Essex has been allocated just under £21 million.
This funding is intended to create specialist facilities within mainstream schools that can deliver more intensive support adapted to suit the pupils’ needs. It can also be used to adapt mainstream schools to be more accessible and to create special school places for pupils with the most complex needs.
It is ultimately up to local authorities to determine how to best prioritise their high needs capital funding to address local priorities.
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