Special needs provision in Bolton schools is set to be expanded after Bolton Council received Government cash.

Under the scheme, schools could be extended to provide the specialist provision at primary schools.

The schemes will help support children with autism and other learning difficulties.

A consultation is now underway to work out which schools would be best placed to provide the specialist provision.

Cabinet member for children’s services Cllr Anne Galloway said: “The council has recently been successful in securing additional funding from the government to expand on and establish new resource provision in some primary schools.

The Bolton News: Cllr Anne GallowayCllr Anne Galloway (Image: Bolton Council)

“This will enable children and young people with SEND to attend mainstream schools whilst receiving the more specialist support they need, in their local communities.

“This extra provision will support a range of needs including social, emotional and behavioural support, autism and moderate and complex learning difficulties."

Several schools are under consideration for funding for the new and expanded schemes.

As part of the process Bolton Council invited expressions of interest from mainstream schools to host a SEND resource provision for Bolton children in the autumn of last year. 

In response several schools across the borough indicated that they would be interested in expanding their provisions for children with special and additional needs and went through a selection process organised by Bolton Council education officials.

In previous cases, SEND schemes have proven to be effectively in helping youngsters to integrate into mainstream education by providing targeted support within school settings.

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Town hall officials hope that this could prove to be hugely beneficial to children all across Bolton.

Cllr Galloway said: “The schemes include a significant expansion of the existing primary resource provisions, recognising the positive impact this has had for children attending and their families.

“Work is well underway to confirm the proposed schemes including timescales which we hope to be in 2023 and early 2024.”

The consultation will be open until Sunday, March 5 this year.