COUNCIL officials have pledged to invest £3 million on the creation of eight 'specialist bases' for children with complex educational needs.

Dorset County Council's cabinet has agreed to fund the bases, which will be based in mainstream schools. Each base will cater for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The council will provide £2m, with an additional £1m grant from the government making up the shortfall.

Over the course of the past 22 months, Dorset has seen a 49 per cent increase in children with an 'education, health and care plan'. At the end of last month, there wer 2,094 children and young people with a plan. The figure is expected to increase to more than 2,440 by 2023.

Changes to legislation mean that young people with SEND now have the right to be supported in education up to the age of 25, instead of 19.

The eight bases will have space for between 10 and 16 children. They will be created at Parley First School in Ferndown, West Moors Middle School, Ferndown Upper School, Gillingham Primary School, Sturminster Newton High School, Dorchester Middle School, Weymouth and Portland Primary School and Weymouth and Portland Secondary School.

Some will open this September.

Councillor Deborah Croney said: “I’m delighted that we’re investing in our SEND provision.

"We believe that children should be supported as close as possible to where they live. This work will allow us to provide more support in our own schools, which will reduce the need for out-of-county placements, cut down travel times for pupils and offer better value for money.

"Most importantly, children will be closer to their families and local communities.”

The investment comes as part of a wider review of SEND provision across Dorset. Since 2017, the council has spent more than £1m on providing additional places and making improvements to the county’s special schools.

A new special school is also due to open in Bovington in September next year. Funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency, it will provide places for another 160 children who had autism and social, emotional and mental health needs.

The school will support pupils from Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole.

Members of the cabinet have also agreed to replace modular buildings at Beaucroft School in Wimborne. The work which will create an extra 10 to 14 places for students.