DOZENS more vulnerable youngsters with special educational needs and disabilities in Barnsley will receive improved school support as part of a huge investment package to cope with a surge in demand for tailored education.

Barnsley Council’s ruling cabinet members will meet on Wednesday to sign off on the scheme, which totals almost £3m over the next two years.

The Chronicle can reveal that one school - The Mill Academy in Worsbrough Bridge - will become a ‘satellite provision’ for up to 45 children with SEND-related issues.

Children who require additional support have education, health and care plans (EHCPs) in place, but the cost of providing tailored education packages costs between £50,000 and £70,000 per year to deliver, with some exceeding £250,000.

Demand for such support has also surged, with a 140 per cent increase in the last decade and more than 3,000 children now have EHCPs in place in Barnsley.

A report said: “Barnsley faces increasing demand for specialist SEND provision, particularly for pupils with autism spectrum disorder, social, emotional and mental health needs and speech, language and communication needs.

“The existing local provision is at capacity, leading to rising out-of-area placements and increased transport costs.

“In line with the national picture, demand for special education provision in Barnsley has been growing, with an increase of children and young people awaiting specialist placement between November 2024 and July 2025.

“As of September 1, there was a total of 100 children and young people

awaiting a specialist school placement in Barnsley, from reception to year 13.

“This demonstrates a very clear need for this provision in order to provide the required support for children and families.

“This is again in line with forecast national trends - for Barnsley, the number of children and young people with EHCPs is expected to increase to 3,400 by the end of the calendar year, representing further growth of 11.7 per cent in 12 months.

“Consequently, this growth will place even greater demand for specialist provision within the borough.

“Following an option appraisal and a feasibility assessment, it is

proposed that an additional 45 special school primary phase SEND places are established on the school site.”

The investment is set to come after it was revealed some youngsters from the town had been placed as far as 300 miles away in Plymouth - at the council’s expense - due to a shortage of places in the local system.

The local authority spent more than £22m on out-of-borough placements in 2023/24, up from £12.1m in 2019/20.

The number of children sent outside the borough has also risen sharply over the same period, from 262 to 450.

Most of the costs went on placement fees - £20.1m in 2023/24 - but more than £2m was also spent on transport for children travelling to schools outside Barnsley.

However, it’s hoped the extra support will help cut costs, after it was confirmed that the £20.1m figure stood at £12.5m just four years ago.

The report added: “As part of steps taken to address the SEND education sufficiency challenge, officers are working with local academies and trusts to identify existing unoccupied or under-occupied school buildings and council-owned land that could be suitable for refurbishment and possible satellite sites.

“Following initial feasibility assessment, The Mill Academy site has been identified as suitable and could be used to accommodate both the existing school and an additional primary SEND satellite provision.

“The required works are scheduled for completion by December 31, 2025.

“Work should continue with local schools to expand provision where there is a need to do so, whilst recognising that the places yielded from such schemes are generally small in number.”