Major Boost for Special Needs Schools in Reading

Reading is expanding support for children with special educational needs (SEN).

Local schools already cater for pupils with social, emotional and mental health issues and those with physical disabilities. They have education, health and care (EHC) plans from Reading Borough Council.

Holy Brook School in Ashampstead Road, Southcote, is one of the existing special schools.

The council plans to extend SEN provision to two Whitley schools: Whitley Park Primary and Nursery (Brixham Road) and The Ridgeway Primary School (Hillbrow).

Both sites will need building work. If approved, 180 places for SEN pupils will be created.

The update was given at the council's policy committee meeting on 19 October.

Councillor Rachel Eden (Labour, Whitley) said planning-related consultations have been carried out and feedback was broadly positive, but concerns were raised about changes to the nursery at Whitley Park and about traffic, parking and drop-off arrangements around both schools.

Plans include keeping a nursery at Whitley Park, reduced from 30 places to 26, and officers say traffic and parking issues have been considered in the planning application.

Parents can take part in the planning process. The Whitley Park application is PL/26/1170 on the council's planning portal; an application for Ridgeway is not yet available.

The council's proposal is to expand Holybrook School onto the Whitley Park and Ridgeway sites to deliver additional SEND places. Another consultation will follow after the policy committee meets on 16 December.

The council aims to approve the change in February, ready for special-school provision to start in September 2027.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter