Forty additional special school places are to be made available in Hatfield and Watford, from April.

With demand for special school places across Hertfordshire said to have ‘grown sharply’ in recent years, the county council is set to increase the number of places available at two existing schools.

From April next year (2024) there will be an additional 20 places at Southfield School, in Hatfield.

And there will be a further 20 additional places at Colnbrook School, in Watford.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the county council’s cabinet on Monday (September 18).

At the meeting executive member for education, libraries and lifelong learning Cllr Caroline Clapper said 560 additional special school places had been created in the county in the past five years.

She said there were plans for another 177 in 2023/24.

“Hertfordshire are committed to providing that the right education is in the right place at the right time,” she said.

“And most children in Hertfordshire will thrive in a mainstream school.

“However some will need extra support through specialist provision or at a special school.”

Pointing to the county council’s investment in special education, she said: “As an authority we are investing £82million to ensure that we have the right provision in the county to meet the future needs of all of our children with special educational needs.”

Colnbrook School is a primary special school, in Watford, with experience of supporting children with learning difficulties, Autism Spectrum Disorders and speech and language difficulties.

Southfield is a special primary school for pupils with learning difficulties, that include Autism, speech, language and communication needs, global development delay and other conditions.

Public consultation on the plans ran between May 16 an June 19. And it was reported to the cabinet that the majority of the responses were in favour – as were the governing bodies of both schools.

Plans have also been drawn up to introduce an additional 20 places Lonsdale School in Stevenage, by converting residential facilities into teaching spaces.

As part of the plans, the first floor residential space would be converted into four areas for older students  – each including a large classroom, toilets and learning areas.