Hounslow Council is strengthening support for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) through a pioneering expansion of specialist provision.
Working in close partnership with both mainstream and specialist schools, the Council is enabling more pupils with additional needs to access high-quality support while remaining in their existing school communities.
A key element of this initiative is partnership working between mainstream and specialist SEND schools, with the latter providing expertise, guidance and training to help mainstream colleagues develop the knowledge and skills required to deliver high-quality provision. This includes ongoing professional development, support with inclusive teaching strategies and advice on how to meet a wide range of educational needs.
The Council is developing an ambitious SEND capital programme that will create up to 838 specialist placements in the borough by 2032, funded by £27m of Department for Education grants.
Proposed schemes include:
- 150 Key Stage 3 – Key Stage 4 Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) places
- 150 additional secondary places via the expansion of Lindon Bennett school
- 288 Resource Provision places in mainstream schools
- 250 post‑16 places, including new employability provision/expansion of the sixth form at Oaklands School
Councillor Samia Chaudhary, Cabinet Member for Education, Children, Skills and Employment at Hounslow Council, said:
“Schools across the borough are playing a crucial role in leading inclusive practice, shaping a more responsive and sustainable SEND system. Their commitment and leadership are central to ensuring children and young people with additional needs receive the right support.
“This expansion of resource provision is part of a broader strategy to respond to national challenges by strengthening the capacity of mainstream education, so a wider range of needs are met. Through innovative collaboration, the borough is leading the way in building a stronger, more inclusive education system.”
Bob Tinsley is the Principal of Lift Kingsley School, who are creating 18 new SEND places for September 2026 rising to 30 by 2028/2029 - for children with Communication and Interaction needs. He commented:
“We are proud to partner with the Local Authority to expand SEND provision in Hounslow, putting inclusion at the very heart of our mission. By drawing on the expertise of Mairead Standring and the Oaklands team, we are ensuring Lift Kingsley offers students the highest standard of support.”
Mairead Standring, Head Teacher at Oaklands added: “It has been a privilege to work alongside the local authority in this exciting expansion project, strengthening the SEN offer for young people within our community. These new resource provisions provide essential spaces where students can access an inclusive and meaningful education within their local school, enabling them to remain connected to, and active within, their communities.
“We have successfully established two pilot primary resource provisions in the borough this September, sponsored by Oaklands. As part of this sponsorship, Oaklands has provided staff training, delivered parent workshops, modelled effective practice, and supported curriculum differentiation to enable learners to engage with mainstream education in a meaningful and inclusive way. We have seen first-hand the positive impact this has had on schools, with students flourishing within the provision this year."
“We are delighted that this provision will now expand to include a Key Stage 2 offer in both schools, and we look forward to working in partnership with Lift Kingsley to support the opening of their resource provision this September.”
