Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if his Department will increase capital funding to expand provision at special schools in Essex.

During 2018, the Department increased investment in the Special Provision Capital Fund by £150 million, taking the total investment from £215 million to £365 million across 2018-2021. This will support local authorities to create further school places and improve facilities for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. The investment is not ring-fenced and therefore local authorities can use it as they see fit in their local area. Essex has been allocated £9.8 million from our £365 million investment, the fourth largest allocation in the country. More information on this fund can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-provision-capital-funding-for-pupils-with-ehc-plans.

The Department provides basic need funding which is based on local authorities’ own data on school capacity and pupil forecasts. Essex received £205.9 million to provide new school places from 2011-2018, and has been allocated a further £57 million from 2018-2021. This funding is also not ring-fenced, allowing local authorities greater flexibility to make decisions that are best for their local area. More information on this fund can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/basic-need-allocations.

The Department is also investing in special provision in Essex via the free schools programme. There are currently 3 special free schools in pre-opening in Essex; The Hawthorns and Beckmead schools will be located in Chelmsford and Chatten special school which will be located in Witham. In addition, Essex County Council have also bid to establish a further special free school in the current alternative provision and special free school round. The successful local authority areas will be announced shortly.