New free school funding boost
Thursday, 18 December 2025
We've been notified by the Department for Education (DfE) of a new capital funding offer to create 130 additional specialist school places.
The announcement follows the government’s commitment of at least £3 billion nationally over 4 years to create tens of thousands of new specialist places, often in mainstream schools so that children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can learn closer to home.
Ministers have been clear that, with falling birth rates, tough decisions are needed so resources are focused where need is greatest.
In Central Bedfordshire, pupil forecasts show overall numbers are set to fall from 35,124 in 2025/26 to 32,830 by 2030/31, while demand for specialist provision continues to rise, from 1,069 in 2023 to more than 1,167. We've already been expanding SEND capacity, including opening a new SEMH provision this month in Dunstable, ahead of the refurbishment of the former Pulloxhill Lower School, which will provide a permanent 50-place provision.
We've also been establishing additional resource provisions (ARPs) in mainstream schools, with new ones opened since 2024 in Stratton School (24 places in Biggleswade), Shefford Lower School (8 places in Shefford), Sandy Secondary (24 places in Sandy) and Brooklands Middle School (12 places in Leighton Buzzard). Fifty additional specialist places have also been delivered at The Chiltern School (Houghton Regis), while a consultation is currently underway asking for feedback on the expansion of Ivel Valley School. Any government funding will be integrated with that planning process.
Councillor Steve Owen, our Executive Member for Children’s Services and Community Safety, said:
Families want timely, local and high‑quality support for children with SEND, so we are pleased to note the intended progress on the Free School initiative after the Regional Schools Director confirmed earlier this year that the 2024 pause lay with the government.
This new offer from the DfE is a welcome boost and gives us a real opportunity to deliver even more places quickly and closer to home, building on the inclusive provision we’re already putting in place across Central Bedfordshire. This government funding will help us deliver on our aims to meet the needs of more children by getting them the right support in the right setting, and doing so as soon as possible.
Our officers are now preparing detailed options for how the 130 places could be delivered and aligned with its newly approved direction on pupil place planning. We'll provide an update on the preferred approach in the new year.