Consultation launched on new SEN school for Lymington
Hampshire County Council wants to create 50 new SEN places at Pennington Primary
Hampshire County Council has launched an informal consultation to gather feedback on plans to create a special educational needs (SEN) unit in the town of Lymington.
If the proposal is approved, 50 SEN places could be created at Pennington Primary School, located on the site of the former Pennington Infant School, by September 2027.
The plans follow the council’s decision earlier this year to merge Pennington Infant and Junior schools. Falling pupil numbers at the sites led to what Hampshire County Council described as “significant” budget pressures.
The need for more specialist SEN places
According to Hampshire County Council, the Lymington and wider New Forest area has a particular shortage of specialist SEN places.
Currently, mainstream schools in the county provide SEN support through resourced provisions; however, Hampshire has no designated SEN units which cater for pupils with more complex needs.
The council explained that the new unit could function flexibly, supporting children separately when required while also allowing for integration into mainstream classes where it is beneficial.
A report presented by council officers described the proposal as a “unique opportunity” to reuse purpose-built school buildings to meet a growing demand locally.
Forecasted increase in demand
The number of children in Hampshire with an education, health and care plan (EHCP) has risen significantly in recent years, with the council reporting 20,301 children had plans in place by November 2025.
Forecasts suggest that without intervention, this number could rise to around 28,000 by 2030–31.
Council officers estimate the cost of creating 50 SEN places at Pennington Primary School would be £1.22million per year, compared with £4million for placing the same number of children in independent or non-maintained special schools.
Next steps in the process
Feedback from the informal consultation will be shared with councillors at an upcoming decision day before any formal statutory consultation is launched.