{"id":67256,"date":"2026-02-20T14:09:52","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T14:09:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shefnews.co.uk\/?p=67256"},"modified":"2026-02-20T14:09:55","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T14:09:55","slug":"councils-scrap-two-new-free-send-schools-to-build-over-200-new-specialist-education-places","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shefnews.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/02\/20\/councils-scrap-two-new-free-send-schools-to-build-over-200-new-specialist-education-places\/","title":{"rendered":"Councils scrap two new free SEND schools to build over 200 new specialist education places"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>There is a divide in communities over Sheffield City Council and Barnsley Council\u2019s change of plans to boost SEND provisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Collin Bulmer, Senior Manager at Burton Street Foundation, showing support for the new plans, said: \u201cChildren that have learning difficulties often don&#8217;t really want to learn about algebra or what the capital of France is. They want to learn about how to manage the social aspects of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSometimes children may miss the social aspect of school and then as they become an adult they may come here and it&#8217;s obvious they need one to one attention so we offer them the support.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Burton Street Foundation provides disability services and community facilities across Sheffield, offering creative sessions that are designed to help self-confidence and expression for those with learning difficulties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On 23 February decisions will be finalised by Sheffield City Council about accepting over \u00a39m high needs capital funding from the Department of Education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"917\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/shefnews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0E63C96B-E8C7-4A91-B2C0-D5B7EF96B502-1-917x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-67309\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Images by Burton Street Foundation and Jonathan Wainwright<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Councillor Tom Hunt, Leader of Sheffield City Council, said: \u201cWe want every child to be able to learn and thrive in the right environment with the right facilities that meet their needs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis is a decision driven by what Sheffield\u2019s children need. That is high-quality support, delivered locally, and rooted in a sense of belonging.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, some communities have been critical of this decision, suggesting that the free SEND schools may have been the superior option in providing support for SEND children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jonathan Wainwright, founder of The Barnsley SEND Parent and Carer Alliance Facebook group, said: \u201cWe are seeing much more of an increase in that type of child who is very classically autistic. What concerns me is that we are not really giving those children a place to have an identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen I talk about this school (the free SEND school) and the importance of this school, it&#8217;s for those autistic children that are like my son. We\u2019re not giving them a place to have an identity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The council have stated that they aim to introduce new alternative provision hubs whilst expanding existing special schools ensuring that SEN children receive the right support in their own community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Councillor Dawn Dale, Chair of the Education, Children and Families Policy Committee, said: \u201cThis is a meaningful step forward for families who have told us they want more support, and we are determined to deliver it.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Divide over Sheffield City Council and Barnsley Council&#8217;s new plan to boost SEND provision<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":839,"featured_media":67299,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[415,11,16,82,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-67256","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-education","category-top-stories","category-top-story","category-uncategorised"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - 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