Councillors asked to give the green light for new £10m investment in SEND provision
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Wakefield’s senior Councillors will be asked to give the green light to a £10m scheme to design and build a new specialist SEND provision in the district.
Wakefield Council’s cabinet members, meeting on 21 July, will be asked to approve the next phase of the redevelopment of the former Wakefield Regional Fire Control Centre. It will provide up to 120 specialist secondary school places for young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.
“This new school will give local children and families access to high-quality education, closer to home.
“Expanding specialist provision in the district is essential to ensure more young people get the support they need to thrive.”
Cllr Matthew Caton
Cabinet Member for Children & Young People
Demand for specialist places is rising nationally, and councils everywhere are under pressure to find sustainable solutions. The new school is part of how the Council aims to meet the challenge locally and make a real difference for families. Being closer to home will benefit children, families and communities.
If Councillors give the go ahead, the Council will be able to use the £10m High Needs Provision Capital Allocation (HNPCA) funding from the Department for Education (DfE) to proceed with the design and build of a special school provision at this site.
This project supports the Council’s broader SEND programme. This is a commitment to support families through intervention, improved mainstream inclusion, strengthened specialist provision, and having a responsive local system for children and families.
The school project is at an early stage of development with further work needed such as technical specifications, surveys, design work cost planning.
The Cabinet meeting will take place on Tuesday 21 July at 5.30pm. The meeting can be watched live or later on the Council’s YouTube channel.