FIVE new bases to help support children with special educational needs (SEN) in Dorset will open this September.

In April, Dorset County Council agreed to invest £3m in SEN provision, including creating eight specialist bases in mainstream schools to cater for children who have complex communication needs.

During a four-week public consultation, there were no responses to the proposals at all. The county council’s cabinet yesterday agreed the continued roll-out of the bases across the county.

Parley First School in Ferndown and West Moors Middle School will each have a base for up to 10 children.

The Forum Centre in Blandford will also host a specialist base to support school children (aged 4-16) with social, emotional, and mental health needs.

Cllr Andrew Parry, cabinet member for education, learning and skills, said: “We’re seeing more pupils in mainstream education who need specialist help with their communication skills.

“We have a duty to support these children and believe it’s important to provide that support in Dorset schools, closer to where they live.”

“This investment allows us to utilise the expertise we have in Dorset and reduce the need for out-of-county placements. It will also cut down travel times for pupils, which will be much better for children and their families.”

The aim is that more bases will open in 2019, although the locations have not yet been finalised.