Plans to expand SEN provision at Morecambe Road School in Lancaster have been approved.
The school will be expanded, with the creation of 34 additional places, 12 of those being in a satellite unit at nearby Lancaster and Morecambe College.
Morecambe Road School is a mixed special school for pupils with moderate learning difficulties, but as part of the expansion plans it is being proposed to redesignate it as a school that meets the needs of children and young people with generic learning difficulties.
This increases the overall number of places to 189.
The plans also include proposals to seek expressions of interests, and initiate feasibility studies and the informal consultation process that would further support the development of SEN units in schools in different locations across the county.
The proposals link in with the implementation of the council's Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Sufficiency Strategy, which was approved by cabinet in October 2020. The strategy was developed in response to the increase in demand for specialist SEND provision in particular areas across Lancashire.
A further review of SEND provision in Lancashire was carried out in June 2021 and identified a particular demand for special school places in the Lancaster/Morecambe area.
Edwina Grant OBE, executive director of education and children's services, Lancashire County Council, said: "The expansion of Morecambe Road School will help to ensure there are enough special school places for all children and young people who need them.
"The development of a satellite provision, that builds on existing arrangements between Morecambe Road School and Lancaster and Morecambe College, is particularly exciting as it will provide older pupils with a broader range of experiences and opportunities that will better equip them with the tools they need to transition into adulthood.
"These proposals are part of a wider strategy to improve SEN provision across the county to enable children and young people to achieve their full potential in education and future employment.
"This is why we are also asking cabinet to take further steps to enable us to consider the development of additional SEN units in areas of Lancashire that need them most."
Praise for Lancaster and Morecambe youngsters who took part in 'tongue movement' project
Clinic where students offer free legal advice to reopen at Lancaster University
Lines reopen after train derailment on Scotland-London line
Police arrest two and seize illegal bike in Morecambe
ITV commissions sixth series of Morecambe crime drama The Bay
E-bike shop moves from Lancaster to new Carnforth showroom
Lancaster workshop to tackle the issue of drink and needle spiking
Morecambe raw feeds shop up for three 'Animal Star' awards
Two new festivals proposed for Morecambe entertainment venue the Platform
Second day of disruption as work continues after train derails in Cumbria
Morecambe lifeboat crew’s swift response rescues swimmer ‘being swept dangerously out to sea’
'Street Meets' announced to answer your questions amid new wheelie bin roll-out
Campaign group welcomes new "life changing" bus service to Morecambe
Lancaster prison worker jailed for drug offences
Major disruption as train derails on West Coast Main Line
Talks begin for events to mark Eric Morecambe's 100th birthday
Lancaster music venue due to shut will now stay open "well into 2026"
Halloween What's On Guide
LISTEN: Launch of new group in Morecambe to help with gambling addiction
LISTEN: New centre for people with disabilities to open in historic Lancaster location
