Hertfordshire County Council has proposed a £6.3 million county-wide SEND investment as part of its draft 2026/27 budget to improve outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Some of that funding will support local projects in Welwyn Garden City as the council seeks to expand specialist support within communities.
The funding is intended to help pay for new Specialist Resource Provisions (SRPs) and the recruitment of specialist staff across the county. Local projects include the recent opening of an SRP at Swallow Dell Primary School and proposed expansions affecting Lakeside School. By expanding specialist provision locally, the council says it aims to reduce the need for children to travel long distances to access appropriate education.
The investment forms part of the council’s draft SEND Strategy 2026–2029, which is currently in public consultation and is expected to be formally adopted in April 2026. Hertfordshire has previously set a target — under its school place planning work — to deliver around 1,000 additional special school places by 2026, and the 2026/27 budget is intended as a final push to meet that ambition.
Cllr Mark Watkin, Executive Member for Education, SEND and Inclusion, said the investment is a top priority to make sure every child has access to the education they need in their local community. Local reporting also notes the council is working to speed up assessment processes for Education, Health and Care Plans so families wait less time for decisions about the support their children need.
If the draft budget is approved, the new funding would take effect from the start of the 2026/27 financial year on 1 April 2026. The move follows commitments from local leaders to address failings identified in past inspections and to provide more reliable SEND services for Hertfordshire families.
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