Wiltshire Council is expanding specialist educational provision across the county, with new resource bases opening this September to support children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Two of the new bases are at Kingsbury Green Academy in Calne and Noremarsh Junior School in Royal Wootton Bassett as part of the council’s ongoing investment in developing more specialist support within mainstream schools, helping more children and young people access high-quality education closer to home.

The resource bases provide tailored support for pupils with additional needs while enabling them to benefit from mainstream school life, learning alongside their peers and building strong connections within their school communities.

Wiltshire Council has invested more than £10m creating and expanding resource bases across the county in recent years as part of its wider SEND programme. There are now a growing number of specialist resource bases in Wiltshire schools supporting a range of needs, including speech, language and communication needs, autism spectrum condition, and complex learning needs.

From September 2026 there are 27 primary resource bases and six secondary resource bases.

Councillor Jon Hubbard, Cabinet Member for SEND, said: “We want children and young people with SEND to have the right support, in the right place and at the right time. The opening of these new resource bases is part of a much larger programme to significantly increase the number of resource bases across Wiltshire and further strengthen our inclusive education offer, ensuring more children can access the specialist support they need closer to home.

“Over the last few years we have worked closely with schools to develop a network of resource bases that enables more children to access specialist support while remaining part of their local school community. These additions offer tailored learning environments and expertise that help children thrive academically, socially and emotionally. I would like to thank the staff, governors and school leaders involved in bringing these resource bases to life. Their commitment to inclusion will make a real difference to children and families across Wiltshire.”

Nicola Bull, Headteacher at Kingsbury Green Academy, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be developing a new secondary resource base at KGA. This provision will enable us to better support students with additional needs, ensuring they feel included, valued, and able to succeed alongside their peers. It reflects our ongoing commitment to inclusive education and to meeting the diverse needs of our community.”

Hilary MacMeekin, Headteacher at Noremarsh Junior School, said: “We are incredibly excited and proud to announce the opening of our new Speech, Language and Communication Specialist Base this September. This is a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to inclusion and ensuring every child can thrive. The new provision reflects the inclusive ethos that runs throughout our school, building on our achievements as a Dyslexia Friendly School, our involvement in PINS, and the positive feedback we have received through Ofsted and other external visits.

“We look forward to welcoming children into this specialist provision and continuing to create opportunities for every learner to succeed.”

The new provisions form part of Wiltshire Council’s wider strategy to increase specialist education capacity across the county, offering greater choice and support for children and families while helping pupils access the education they need within their local communities whenever possible.