New SEND units approved at three schools

Three new SEND (Special Education Needs and Disabilities) units will be coming to Wokingham Borough after plans were approved last night (26 February).

The units, which will be at Walter Infant School, St Paul’s Junior School and Winnersh Primary School will bring a total of 40 extra SEND school places to the borough. The plans were approved by the council’s decision-making executive and the funding required (£2m) is secured.

The extra places are part of the council’s drive to meet the increasing need for SEND school places in the borough, both to provide better education and opportunities to children and to reduce reliance on expensive out-of-borough placements and to enable SEND children to be educated together with their peers.

Executive member for Children’s Services Cllr Prue Bray said: “Three more units is good news for children with SEND and their families, who desperately need high quality school places locally. They follow the 2024 opened units at Radstock (whose permanent accommodation was completed recently) and Loddon primary schools in Earley. 

“We want as many children as possible to go to a local school in their own communities because we believe that is best for them and their families. There is, of course, also a financial advantage to the council in the long-term in reducing reliance on paying for school places outside the borough and transport to them.” 

The Walter Infant School

The Walter Infant School provision will be 12-place SEND Unit for pupils with Autism and associated additional needs. The unit will be hosted in the current school premises and it is planned to open with four Reception year places in September 2026, increasing annually to 12 places in September 2028.

St Pauls Junior School

The St Pauls Church of England Junior School provision is a 16-place SEND Unit for junior school-age pupils with Autism and associated additional needs. The unit will be hosted in new accommodation on the school site and is planned to open offering four Year 4 places in September 2026, increasing annually to 16 places in September 2029.

Winnersh Primary School

The Winnersh Primary School provision is a 12-place SEND Unit for primary school-age pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. The unit will be accommodated in existing accommodation on the school site and it will open offering up to six Reception to Year 3 places in September 2026, increasing annually to 12 places by September 2029.

Sensory room picture is an example of investment in SEND facilities in the borough at Radstock Primary School in Earley.