Hertfordshire County Council is moving forward with draft budget proposals to increase support for children with special educational needs (SEND) countywide, with a targeted focus on Cheshunt in the Borough of Broxbourne.
On January 30, 2026, the council’s Education, SEND & Inclusion cabinet panel endorsed draft proposals that include up to £140 million of capital investment to expand SEND school places and related facilities. The £140 million forms part of a wider four‑year capital programme (around £1.3 billion) set out in the 2026/27 draft budget.
The funding is intended to create about 1,000 new local SEND school places across Hertfordshire to tackle a long-standing “geographical inequity” that has forced families in the Broxbourne area to travel long distances for specialist education. The proposals use a “hub-and-spoke” approach, embedding specialist staff and resources in local schools so children can access support closer to home.
The council says delivery could involve establishing Specialist Resource Provisions (SRPs) within existing Cheshunt schools — for example, Goffs Academy or St Mary’s High — but no final site decisions have been published.
A final review by Cabinet is scheduled for 11 February, with Full Council due to consider and potentially adopt the budget on 24–25 February 2026. The investment is being proposed while the council continues to seek around £55 million of savings elsewhere to balance its finances.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
