Tameside invests in specialist SEND provision to create 194 additional places across the borough

Children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Tameside are set to benefit from a significant expansion of specialist educational provision.

Three special schools, five primary schools and one secondary school across the borough will be receiving a combined investment of £7.13m to create an additional 194 specialist places.

The investment forms part of Tameside Council's wider commitment to ensuring that children and young people with SEND can access the right support, in the right place, at the right time, and as close to home as possible.

The additional places will support some of Tameside's most vulnerable and complex learners. At Cromwell High School, investment will increase capacity to support pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties, and complex autism, helping to ensure specialist education is available locally for children with the highest levels of need.

Thomas Ashton School will develop dedicated nurture and support spaces designed to meet the needs of pupils experiencing social, emotional and mental health difficulties. These environments will provide targeted support to help children engage successfully in education and build confidence, resilience and positive outcomes.

At Hawthorns School, investment will create additional specialist provision focused on speech, language and communication needs, strengthening the borough's commitment to early intervention and ensuring children receive support as early as possible in their educational journey. The programme represents part of a wider transformation of SEND provision across Tameside.

Alongside investment in specialist schools, funding is also supporting the creation and expansion of specialist provision within mainstream primary and secondary schools. These developments will create additional places for children and young people with SEND locally, enabling more pupils to access the support they need close to their homes and communities.

Over the last two years, the Council has invested over £8.5m in expanding and improving SEND provision across mainstream and specialist settings, creating additional capacity and improving learning environments for children and young people with SEND.

This work sits alongside Tameside's SEND Reform Plan, developed in partnership with children and young people, families, schools, health partners and local services. A key priority within the plan is ensuring sufficient high-quality local provision is available to meet increasing demand, whilst creating inclusive and appropriate learning environments that enable children and young people to thrive.

By increasing specialist places within the borough, Tameside is helping more children access education closer to home, reducing the need for out-of-borough placements and strengthening local support networks around children and their families.

The investment reflects a whole-system approach to SEND, recognising that meeting the needs of children and young people requires collaboration across education, health and care services. Alongside increasing specialist capacity, the borough continues to invest in earlier intervention, workforce development and inclusive practice across all schools.

All projects are progressing at pace, with the majority of projects scheduled for completion during 2026, with the exception of one school project, which is currently programmed for completion by September 2027.

Councillor Leanne Feeley, Executive Member for Lifelong Learning and Culture, said:

"Our ambition is for every child and young person with SEND in Tameside to have access to high-quality education and support within their local community wherever possible.  This investment demonstrates our commitment to developing a sustainable and inclusive system that meets the needs of children and families both now and in the future. By increasing specialist provision, enhancing learning environments and building local capacity, we are creating more opportunities for children and young people with SEND to achieve, belong and thrive."