An Essex special school is set to expand with a new teaching block after an increase of more than 34 per cent in the intake of children. 

Glenwood School in Thundersley has agreed plans for the development which will provide a new build modern and specialist special educational needs and disabilities facility for 40 pupils. Essex County Council is behind the plans at the school. 

The plans state the number of children and young people who live in Essex with an education health care plan has increased by 34 per cent in the last four years from a total of 8,268 in 2018 to 11,092 in 2022.

There has been a 46 per cent increase in Essex’s special school population from 2015 to 2022.

The planning documents also state that it’s predicted pressures on Essex special schools will grow further between now and 2026. Between 2015 and 2020, special school places increased by 34 per cent, with a further 18 per cent rise expected between 2021 and 2026.

Essex will need an additional 612 special school places to meet the anticipated growth of children and young people with an education health care plan who need a special school place.

The proposed arrangement will offer teaching, catering and dining, staff administration and therapy spaces, in the single storey school building, to the north of the school site. 

The design and access statement says: “Increased need for provision for children and young people with severe learning difficulties in south Essex has placed considerable pressure on Glenwood Special School.

"Demand for places at the school has grown over the years, due to population growth and a rise in the number of children and young people who require a special school place, putting pressure on the school’s infrastructure. 

“It is evident, that there is no feasible, viable, nor deliverable alternative to meet the growing demand for additional local special education needs and disabilities places when compared to the opportunity presented at Glenwood School.

"The aim of the proposals has been to provide a new school teaching building which is sympathetic to the nature of the surrounding area and makes the best use of the site.”