Knowsley Council’s Cabinet has approved a further £2.5m investment to continue strengthening Knowsley’s local provision for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
In November 2024, the Council launched a £5m expansion project at Alt Bridge School, which will deliver more than 120 new specialist places for Knowsley pupils. This is one of the largest SEND capital investments ever undertaken in the borough and marks a significant step in reducing the need for families to look beyond Knowsley for the right support.
The additional £2.5m will fund the next phase of this ambitious programme, enabling:
- Major development at Knowsley Central School, including the removal of the existing modular building and installation of a new, modern modular building, creating at least 30 extra places (60 in total).
- Essential car park and pupil drop-off improvements at Knowsley Central, improving safety and accessibility for pupils and families.
- Preliminary works to support the future expansion of Bluebell Park School, helping the Council plan ahead for the growing demand in the coming years.
- Allocation of funding to Vantage CE Academies Trust to support the creation of a new SEN Unit at Willow Tree Primary School, expanding specialist support within a mainstream setting.
The development of the schemes was informed by a borough-wide review of the special school estate, focusing on expanding high-quality provision within schools rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.
The Council also noted a positive environmental impact, as providing more local places will reduce the number of pupils traveling out-of-borough, thus reducing associated carbon emissions.
Cllr David Lonergan, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said:
“Over the past 18 months, Knowsley Council has made sustained efforts to improve early intervention services and increase the number of high-quality, local school places for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. This work is central to the Council’s commitment to ensuring that children can learn, thrive and be supported within their own communities.
“This proposal directly supports priority one of the Knowsley Council Plan 2025–2030, to ‘deliver effective, high-quality services and support’, and this investment demonstrates our unwavering commitment to Knowsley’s children and young people with SEND.”
A consultation and engagement plan will be developed to ensure transparency and to involve parents and carers throughout the next stages of this work.
You can read the full Cabinet report here: KNOWSLEY METROPOLITAN BOROUGH