Children with special educational needs in Gosport and the New Forest will benefit from additional school places after Hampshire County Council approved new resourced provisions at two local schools.
Councillor Steve Forster, the county council’s Cabinet Member for Education, endorsed the proposals during his Decision Day session today.
The approved plans include a new Resourced Provision at Newtown Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School in Gosport, which will accommodate 10 pupils aged four to 11 with Autism Spectrum Condition. The facility will open in phases beginning September 2025. Resourced Provisions offer specialist environments for children with SEND within mainstream educational settings.
Additionally, an existing Resourced Provision at Ashley Infant School in New Milton will be expanded by eight places, bringing the total capacity to 15 places for pupils with Autism Spectrum Condition and 17 places for children with Speech, Language and Communication needs. This expansion will serve children aged four to seven from September 2025.
Both proposals underwent formal statutory consultations earlier this year.
Councillor Forster commented: “We remain dedicated to helping Hampshire schools continue responding effectively to children’s special educational needs, particularly as demand increases and children’s requirements develop. Today’s approved places contribute to our broader commitment, ensuring local provision meets local demand and advances our objective of creating 1,000 new SEND places across Hampshire by 2030.
“Investing in places for children with SEND within our schools, including mainstream environments, decreases our dependence on independent specialist provision, which costs significantly more and is often located much further from children’s homes. Developing our own provision means more children will receive appropriate support within their local communities alongside their peers.”
During the same Decision Day, Councillor Forster also authorised formal consultations on several additional proposals:
- A new Resourced Provision at Applemore College, Dibden Purlieu for 15 pupils aged 11 to 16 with Autism Spectrum Condition, opening 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, opening in phases from September 2025
- Expansion of existing Resourced Provision at Horndean Technology College, Waterlooville by four places, providing 21 total places for pupils aged 11 to 16 with Autism Spectrum Condition from September 2025
- Expansion of existing Resourced Provision at the Wildground Federation, Dibden Purlieu by eight places, providing 16 total places for pupils aged four to 11 with Autism Spectrum Condition from September 2025
Public Notices will be published on the County Council’s website, enabling local families, residents and interested parties to provide feedback between 27 June and 25 July 2025.
Councillor Forster also approved an initial informal consultation regarding a new Resourced Provision for 15 pupils aged 11 to 16 with Autism Spectrum Condition at Harrow Way Community School, Andover, scheduled to open in phases from September 2026. This consultation will be available on the County Council’s website from 30 June to 25 July 2025.
Excluding Horndean Technology College, which involves no capital costs, these projects are part of the County Council’s Capital Programme for Children’s Services. The programme will invest over £121 million in school projects this financial year, subject to Cabinet and full County Council approval in July.
