48 new SEND places available in Swindon schools by September 2026
Investment supports expanded facilities at Oaktree and Mountford Manor Primary Schools
A total of 48 new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) places will be available at two Swindon primary schools by September 2026.
Oaktree Nursery and Primary School, with the support of Swindon Borough Council, has already established a new unit offering 24 SEND places.
The school expanded its capabilities with a £500,000 investment, transforming a previously unused building into a purpose-built environment inclusive of a dedicated play park and a specialist sensory room.
Mountford Manor Primary School also benefits from 24 new places as part of Swindon’s broader programme to enhance SEND provision.
Funding from a £3.4m grant from the Department for Education, received by the Council last year, supports the creation of new places across Swindon.
The initiative is part of a strategic decision made in February 2025 by Cabinet Members to expand and establish new Complex Needs Units in primary and secondary schools, aiming to create a total of 158 new places.
Recently, 20 new specialist places were opened at Eldene Nursery and Primary School and Robert Le Kyng Primary School.
The progress was marked by visits from Councillor Jim Robbins, Leader of Swindon Borough Council, and Councillor Adorabelle Amaral-Shaikh, Cabinet Member for Education, who visited Oaktree Nursery and Primary School to meet pupils benefitting from the new unit.
Councillor Amaral-Shaikh commented on the expansion, “Ensuring every child in Swindon has access to the support they need to thrive is one of our top priorities. The investment at Oaktree and Mountford Manor Primary Schools means more families will benefit from high-quality, specialist education in their community.”
Councillor Robbins added: “It was great to visit the new SEND unit at Oaktree today and see the difference this investment is already making for local families.”
Gary Evans, CEO of The Blue Kite Academy Trust, overseeing both Oaktree Primary and Robert Le Kyng Primary, expressed enthusiasm about the developments, saying, "We are delighted to mark the opening of our new SEND units, a significant investment reflecting the shared commitment of our schools and the Trust, creating inclusive environments where every child can thrive.”