Extra SEND places also coming to Bordon, Bartley and Fleet schools

Hampshire County Council has confirmed approval for a £2 million refurbishment and expansion project at Maple Ridge Special School in Basingstoke.

As well as improving the existing school buildings, the works will accommodate 10 additional pupils with Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD) from September this year, increasing the school’s total capacity to 110 places.

This will be achieved by adding two new modular buildings to the existing school site, which opened in 1971. There are two existing modular buildings which will be refurbished, along with two classrooms that will be converted into therapy rooms. Works have now started with completion expected by September 2025 – ready for the new school year.

Councillor Steve Forster, the County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, approved the expansion and a further three school expansions which together will provide a total of 44 new places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) across Hampshire.

Commenting, Councillor Forster described the Maple Ridge expansion as “necessary” to address the growing demand for specialist places in the Basingstoke area. He added:

“While the County Council has a duty to provide education for all children, costs have spiralled as too many children with complex needs have had to be sent out of their local area or to costly independent provision.

“Our action to meet growing demand by expanding our special schools and adding extra SEND places in local mainstream schools not only saves money but also gives more children the chance to be educated near their community, alongside their peers. These latest expansions bring us closer to our target of delivering 1,000 new specialist SEND places in Hampshire schools by 2030.”

The other expansions include:

• Hollywater School, Bordon (special school): Additional 20 places for pupils with Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD), opening in phases from September 2025
• Velmead Junior School, Fleet: Provision for 12 pupils with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), opening in phases from September 2025
• Bartley Junior School, New Forest: Provision for 12 pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, opening in phases from September 2025.

All projects are to be funded by the Department for Education.

More information on the school expansions is available in the Decision Day report.