A major investment to expand SEND provision in Warrington, including a £675,000 investment at Birchwood High School, has been approved by Warrington Borough Council’s cabinet.
The significant package of capital investment aims to expand and improve school facilities across the borough, supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The investment also aims to tackle children being sent out of the borough for SEND placements at high costs.
At its meeting on Monday, 8 December, the cabinet agreed to increase investment to £675,000 for a new designated provision at Birchwood High School. This facility will create 24 specialist places for students with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs – the first secondary provision of its kind in Warrington.
This investment forms part of the council’s wider strategy to meet rising demand for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). By enhancing local provision, the council aims to ensure children can access high-quality education within their own community, reducing the need for long journeys to out-of-area placements.
Cllr Matt Smith, Cabinet Member for Children’s, Families and Education, said: “This is a vital investment in our children’s futures. We are seeing a significant rise in demand for specialist support, and it is our absolute priority to ensure that Warrington children can access high-quality education in settings that meet their specific needs.
“I am particularly pleased that we are moving forward with the new provision at Birchwood High School. Creating 24 new places for students with social, emotional, and mental health needs within a mainstream secondary setting will be transformative for those young people, allowing them to learn alongside their peers and stay connected to their local community.”
The cabinet report highlighted ten active schemes designed to increase capacity and improve accessibility in schools. In addition to Birchwood High, investments include:
• Green Lane Special School – Reconfiguring the main building to create additional classrooms, break-out spaces, and installing a new lift to increase capacity.
• Gorse Covert Primary School – Creating a new designated provision classroom with a sensory space and outdoor learning area.
• Meadowside Primary School – Refurbishing classrooms to include regulation spaces.
• Padgate High School – Improving accessibility with new toilet and shower facilities and creating an additional classroom.
• Statham and Saint Vincent’s Primary Schools – Adaptations to create new designated provision classes.
Cllr Smith added: “Last week, full council united to pass a motion condemning the excessive profits made by some independent SEND providers. When we are forced to look outside the borough for placements, we see costs that drain the public purse while taking children away from their home town.
“By investing in our own schools, we are taking direct action to tackle this issue. We are proving that we can provide better, more inclusive education locally, and at a fraction of the cost of the independent sector. This approach protects our budget, but most importantly, it protects the right of our children to high-quality education, closer to their homes.”
The new provision at Birchwood High School is expected to open in 2026, with construction works scheduled to commence in the spring term.
