The announcement follows a direct letter sent by KCC’s Cabinet Member for Education & Skills, Beverley Fordham, to the Education Secretary in September requesting ‘urgent confirmation’ of these projects.
News of the funding comes with a choice for the Council - either the Department for Education delivers all three schools as planned, or KCC takes a cash alternative to invest in other solutions, such as expanding existing special schools or creating additional specialist resource provisions in mainstream settings.
Kent has a higher proportion of children with Education, Health and Care Plans attending special schools (39%) compared to the national average (30%), placing significant pressure on the education system.
“This is a positive step, after months of uncertainty.”
Beverley Fordham, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “This is a positive step, after months of uncertainty. The additional places these schools could create would help to relieve pressure on existing SEN provisions in North Kent and help us ensure there are appropriate school places for children and young people who really need them.”
While awaiting the government’s decision, KCC has driven forward its own work to expand local places. This year, we have:
- Agreed to expand Parkwood Hall Co-operative Academy by 72 places (from 120 to 192).
- Agreed to expand Broomhill Bank School by 172 places (from 318 to 490). Together, that’s 244 new special school places added already.
- Funded a new specialist learning facility at The Oaks in Tonbridge.
- Completed the final phase of The Beacon School’s £20 million expansion.
- Approved a major expansion at Nexus Foundation Special School to add more than 100 places across Kent.
Meanwhile, we’ve committed £20 million of High Needs Capital Grant in our 2026–30 commissioning plan to increase specialist resource provision (SRP) capacity in mainstream schools so that they can support more children and young people in mainstream settings with the benefits that brings.
Kent has 76 provisions in 67 mainstream schools offering SRPs, and plans are in place to roll out dozens more SRPs over the next three years, creating 889 additional places.
Kent’s multi-pronged approach – new free schools, existing school expansions, and SRP rollout – is transforming special education in the area.
These combined efforts are vital to reducing reliance on expensive independent placements and ensuring children with the most complex needs have the right support, close to home.
Discussions will now take place with the school trusts involved before a formal decision is taken by KCC about how it will use the funding allocated in the new year.
