Special education places have been created in Bracknell, but uncertainty remains over the creation of a new school for autistic children.
Special education places have been created in Bracknell, but uncertainty remains over whether a new school for autistic children can be built at the Buckler's Park development in Crowthorne.
Bracknell Forest Council's cabinet, made up entirely of Labour councillors, received a Q2 2025 report covering July to September last year. The report was discussed at the cabinet meeting on January 20.
Over that period five new childcare settings opened — three offering extended hours and weeks and two on traditional term-time schedules.
New specialist education provision also opened at Edgbarrow (five places) and Hawthorn Academy (twelve places) for Social, Emotional and Mental Health, increasing capacity for children with additional needs and preventing an increase in placements to independent secondary schools for children with autism.
The planned Forest View School for autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) children remains uncertain. Councillor Guy Gillbe (Labour, Easthampstead & Wildridings) asked: "For the benefit of the public listening, please can you explain the current situation with the proposed Forest View School?"
Cllr Roy Bailey (Labour, Town Centre & The Parks) replied: "We are currently working through our revised business case. There is a definite need for an ASD school in Bracknell Forest, and that will be confirmed by the time of our submission to the Department for Education (DfE) on February 23. The school will be built by the DfE if we take that option, and they would identify the funding stream, not the council."
The council also has the option of receiving £5.4 million to create special education needs provision elsewhere, and Cllr Bailey stated that Bracknell Forest has the need for both the ASD school and the special needs places.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
