Brent Council has revealed plans for a new special needs school to prevent pupils from being sent miles away to be taught.

Due to a growing demand and limited availability, hundreds of Special Educational Needs (SEND) pupils are having to travel outside the borough for a place.

As it does not have any land available to build a new SEND school, Brent Council contacted other schools in the borough to see if any could accommodate a temporary building. Newman Catholic College on Harlesden Road was the only school willing to provide land.

If approved, the two-storey building would be used to school pupils from Manor School, a SEND facility on Chamberlayne Road, for a temporary period of five years as it has seen an increase in demand for places.

At the end of the five years, the Newman Catholic College site would be returned to its original state, and pupils would be schooled at a new permanent school set to be built in Wembley.

Documents show plans for the building to provide six classrooms, a reception room, and staff offices, as well as a sick bay, toilets and storage facilities.

The number of pupils in Brent who have special educational, health, and social care plans (EHCP) has risen by almost 15 per cent since 2020, compared with just over 10 per cent nationally. With this expected to continue rising over the next few years there is a need to create more spaces in the borough.

Due to the lack of available places in the borough, there were 576 children and young people educated outside of Brent in 2021, with 180 in independent special schools, costing £7.2 million a year.

In the same year, there were 2,784 children and young people in Brent with EHCPs, which includes under fives up to those aged 25. By 2027, this number is expected to rise to 4,932, according to a government survey. This increase will have a significant impact on the demand for SEND school places.

Brent Council was approached for comment but did not respond ahead of publication.