More children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Gosport and the New Forest will access the right support closer to home, thanks to the addition of new special needs places in two local schools.

Councillor Steve Forster, Hampshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, approved the following plans at his Decision Day earlier today: 

• A new Resourced Provision at Newtown Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Gosport for 10 pupils aged four to 11 with Autism Spectrum Condition, to open in phases from September 2025. A Resourced Provision is a specialist environment for children with SEND within a mainstream school.

• The expansion of an existing Resourced Provision at Ashley Infant School, New Milton by eight places, providing 15 places in total for pupils with Autism Spectrum Condition and 17 places for pupils with Speech, Language and Communication needs, from September 2025 for children aged four to seven.

This follows two formal statutory consultations which were carried out on the proposals earlier this year.

Commenting on his decision, Councillor Forster said: “We are committed to supporting schools across Hampshire to continue to respond effectively to children’s special educational needs, even as demand grows and children’s needs change and evolve. The new places I have approved today form part of that overall commitment, ensuring that local provision continues to meet local need and taking us one step closer to our goal of 1,000 new SEND places in Hampshire by 2030.

“Investing in places for children with SEND within our own schools, including mainstream settings, reduces our reliance on independent specialist provision, which is far more costly and often much further away from children’s homes. Growing our own provision means more children will have their needs successfully met in their local communities and alongside their peers.”

At the same Decision Day, Councillor Forster also agreed for the County Council to formally consult on the following proposals:

• A new Resourced Provision at Applemore College, Dibden Purlieu for 15 pupils aged 11 to 16 with Autism Spectrum Condition, to open in phases from September 2025.

• A new Resourced Provision at The Wavell School, Aldershot for 15 pupils aged 11 to 16 with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs, to open in phases from September 2025.

• The expansion of an existing Resourced Provision at Horndean Technology College, Waterlooville by four places, providing 21 places in total for pupils aged 11 to 16 with Autism Spectrum Condition, from September 2025.

• The expansion of an existing Resourced Provision at the Wildground Federation, Dibden Purlieu by eight places, providing 16 places in total for pupils aged four to 11 with Autism Spectrum Condition, from September 2025.

Public Notices will now be published on the County Council’s website allowing local families, residents and others interested in the proposals to share their feedback between 27 June and 25 July 2025.

Finally, Councillor Forster also agreed to undertake an initial informal consultation on the creation of a new Resourced Provision for 15 pupils aged 11 to 16 with Autism Spectrum Condition at Harrow Way Community School, Andover, to open in phases from September 2026. The consultation will be published on the County Council’s website and will run from 30 June to 25 July 2025.

With the exception of Horndean Technology College, which has no associated capital costs, these projects form part of the County Council’s Capital Programme for Children’s Services, which will see over £121 million spent on school projects this financial year, subject to agreement by Cabinet and the full County Council in July.