Plans to launch a consultation to increase the number of places for pupils at a Starbeck special needs school have been approved.

Springwater School, which is based off the High Street, currently offers 112 places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND.

It caters to children aged two to 19 who have autism, learning and speech difficulties, and language and communicational needs.

But the North Yorkshire Council-run school was the subject of an executive meeting on Tuesday (September 3), where councillors voted to approve a consultation on expanding its provisions.

The plans would see the number of places increase by 45 – taking it to 157 places on offer from September 1, 2025. 

The move comes shortly after the Stray Ferret’s investigation into the local SEND crisis, which found an acute shortage of places available at additional needs schools.

We published an in-depth article on the findings and one mother’s own experiences, as well as a first-person report from another local parent. You can find out more about how we put the two-part series together here. 

Council chief executive, Richard Flinton, also told the Stray Ferret in a recent interview the current SEND system is “broken”.

The council last month said Springwater’s expansion would be funded by “significant” capital investment, which would see two council-owned buildings next to the school redeveloped.

Dedicated classrooms, new changing facilities, an outdoor space with an area for sixth-form pupils, a kitchen and a sensory room would all be created should the expansion be approved.

The additional spaces would “reduce pupil journey times to-and-from school”, the council said, as well as offer a “much greater convenience” for children with SEND.

The authority added the move would achieve long-term savings by reducing the current demand and high costs of placing children outside of North Yorkshire settings.

According to a report drawn up ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, the final decision on increasing the school’s capacity will be made by the executive members, should no objections arise during the latter stage of the consultation. 

Consultation timeline

Although the consultation has been approved, there are still several stages to complete before the final decision is made. 

The five-week consultation commenced today, which will be followed by a stakeholder engagement event at Springwater School on October 2.

The report says the consultation will close on October 11 and executive members will “consider the consultation response” on November 5.

A publication of statutory notices will be published by November 14, on which day a four-week representation will begin.

This is set to end on December 14, before the council’s executive make the final decision on increasing the number of places on January 7, 2025. If approved, building work would also start that month.

The cost of the expansion has not been revealed. However, the Stray Ferret reported on the scheme in its infancy in February last year.

At the time, the council intended to spend £3.1 million of its High Needs Provision Capital Allocation to fund the expansion, which is granted by the government. 

You can give your views on the proposed expansion until 5pm, on October 11, here.