A new school will be built in Swindon after £22.4 million in extra funding was announced.

The extra funding will see 100 additional special educational needs and disability places at the school by 2028, and 66 extra places at four existing primary and secondary school.

The new school is being funded by £13.2 million of borrowing and will provide places across all key stages from ages four to 19.

The location is unconfirmed, with council officers reviewing available sites including options to redevelop existing buildings.

The schools to be extended are Eldene Primary School, creating an extra 10 Key Stage One places.

A 24-place Key Stage One and Key Stage Two unit will be created at Badbury Park Primary School, while current special schools Nylands Primary and St Luke’s Academy will receive funding to create an additional 16 places at both schools.

According to the council, these places will be available in September 2024 and 2025.

The 66 additional places are being funded by the SEND Capital Grant, which is received from the Department for Education, and Section 106 developer contributions.

Swindon SEND Families Voice, a charity supporting families with SEND children, reacted in a Facebook post: “I am sure that you will all agree that at such a time of financial challenge for the Local Authority to gain this level of commitment is amazing.”

Councillor Adorabelle Amaral-Shaikh, Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for education, said: “I am absolutely delighted we have secured this funding to provide additional places at special schools in Swindon, as it is incredibly important that we have enough specialist provision for the children and young people in the Borough who need it.

“We are blessed with fantastic special schools, with dedicated leaders and staff teams supporting our children and families and many of our mainstream schools also have specialist units across all ages who are doing an amazing job through inclusive specialist provision. Swindon is a fast-expanding town and we know we will need more capacity as we continue to grow.”

Councillor Jim Robbins, leader of Swindon Borough Council, said: “This investment in our SEND education is great news for parents and sends a clear signal that we want to provide the very best educational facilities for our children and young people.

“It is also very much in keeping with our mission to Reduce Inequality as we want everyone in the Borough to have the very best start in life that they can.”