A new plan aims to expand specialist education provision for children and young people with SEND across Brighton & Hove.
Brighton & Hove City Council has published a draft plan outlining how it intends to improve support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) over the next three years.
The SEND Sufficiency Plan 2026-2029 will be discussed by councillors at a Cabinet meeting on 16th July 2026. If approved, it will guide the delivery of new specialist education places and expanded support in mainstream schools across the city.
What does the plan include?
The draft plan proposes a phased programme of improvements, including:
- New specialist support bases.
- Targeted support within mainstream schools.
- A refocused approach to the city’s specialist alternative provision (AP).
The council says the plan aims to ensure there are enough specialist education places to meet the needs of children and young people with SEND in Brighton & Hove.
The proposed programme also aims to address gaps in specialist education capacity by creating new and expanding existing provision over the next three years.
The proposals have been developed alongside representatives from early years, primary and secondary schools, as well as the Parent Carer Council (PaCC).
Councillor Emma Daniel, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Youth Services, said: “This is a vital piece of work setting out how we plan on expanding and improving local support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
“We’re committed to giving our children and young people the best start in life. If agreed, the draft SEND Sufficiency Plan would help us achieve this by offering a clear roadmap to increase specialist provision in Brighton & Hove.”
She added that the plan would be an important step towards delivering a fairer, more inclusive and sustainable education system that supports the needs of all children growing up in Brighton & Hove.
Rising demand for SEND support
According to the council, 26.1% of pupils in Brighton & Hove were identified as having SEND in January 2026.
Of those pupils:
- 6.4% had an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
- 19.7% were receiving SEND support.
The council says national policy is increasingly focused on early intervention, greater inclusion within mainstream education and a more locality-based approach to supporting children with SEND.
It has also submitted a three-year Local SEND Reform Plan to the Department for Education, setting out how it plans to strengthen services across Brighton & Hove.
If Cabinet approves the SEND Sufficiency Plan, any individual projects requiring statutory approval will be subject to separate decisions and public consultation.
What do you think about the proposed plans? If approved, they could help shape SEND provision across Brighton & Hove over the next three years. Let us know your thoughts.
