Brent Council has announced a major expansion of its special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision, with plans to build a new 50-place primary school in North London. The decision comes as the local authority struggles to keep pace with a significant post-Covid surge in demand for specialist education places.
A Strategic Response to Growing Demand
The new facility will be constructed at the Strathcona site in Preston Park, a location recently made available after the Islamia Primary School relocated. The plan received formal approval from Brent Council's Cabinet at a meeting on November 17 and is now moving to a local consultation phase.
This new school is a central component of a broader strategy to create an additional 212 primary and secondary school SEND places across the borough within the next two years. A key driver for this expansion is the escalating cost of sending pupils to independent and out-of-borough schools, which currently totals £17.5 million per year, plus an extra £6 million in transport.
Preston Park Councillor, Daniel Kennelly, emphasised the importance of the project, stating, "Thanks to funding being made available, thanks to a site being freed up, we are now able to open a 50-place primary school for SEND education to meet the growing need of EHCPs in the borough." He highlighted that primary school-aged children have seen the highest increase in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), with an 8.2 per cent rise in the last year.
Wider Expansion and Persistent Challenges
The council's plan extends beyond the Strathcona site. Consultations will also be held on expanding four other existing SEND schools:
- An extra 40 places at Woodfield School
- 34 additional places at The Avenue
- 88 new places at The Manor School
- A net gain of 40 places at The Village School
If approvals are granted, the Strathcona and Manor School places are projected to be ready in 2026, with Woodfield and The Avenue following in 2027, and The Village School in 2028.
Despite this ambitious expansion, council projections indicate it will not be sufficient to meet anticipated demand. A shortfall of over 300 primary and secondary school places is predicted for the 2026/27 academic year. In a worst-case scenario, this gap could grow to 361 primary and 291 secondary places by 2030.
Currently, 136 children in mainstream schools are awaiting a SEND school place, a 16 per cent increase from the previous year. The vast majority of these, 128 children, are of primary age. A further 16 children are receiving home tuition while a suitable placement is sought.
Financial and Social Imperatives
Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Schools, Cllr Gwen Grahl, described the delivery of these new places as "a key priority". She acknowledged the dual benefit of the strategy, noting it is "not only better for families because it keeps children closer to home but it also helps manage financial pressures on the council."
The scale of need in the borough is substantial. As of August 2025, there are 2,414 school-age children with an EHCP in Brent, representing 5.5 per cent of the total school population. Nearly half of these children attend mainstream schools, despite a proportion requiring the specialised support of a SEND school.
This comprehensive plan represents a critical step for Brent Council in addressing a pressing local issue, aiming to provide vulnerable children with accessible, high-quality education within their own community while alleviating significant financial strain on council resources.
